School House - Spring/Summer 2018

SPRING/SUMMER 2018

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BRITISH EDUCATION

THE ART OF IT Why STEM should become STEAM

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY 50 years of the IB

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C O U N T R Y | WA T E R S I D E

Contact Nigel Bishop | 020 8938 3836 | njb@recoco.co.uk

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CONTENTS SPRING/SUMMER 2018

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FEATURES 42 49

92 UPFRONT NEWS...

20 25

ON THE COVER: HEATHFIELD SCHOOL © HUGO BURNAND

28 34

HEAD BOYS AND HEAD GIRLS Cottesmore School EDUCATIONAL NEWS Academic updates PREP NEWS Keep up to date with the latest happenings SENIOR NEWS Insider information for savvy students

... AND VIEWS 23 26

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FIRST WORD Richard Addis on the deception of fake news A CONNECTED WORLD Mobile phone use must be balanced at schools, says Richard Cairns PROTESTING THE PRE-TEST Tom Dawson helps parents navigate entry into senior school BILINGUAL LONDON Schools in other languages have added value

56 58 64 72

SCHOOL LEAVER

THE EMERALD ISLE Rory Reilly discovers Irish boarding schools SCHOOLS AS BUSINESSES Melanie Cable Alexander gets to the bottom of the concept HAPPY FIFTIETH BIRTHDAY The IB reaches a milestone A MODERN SPORT Sally Jones on the rise of the pentathlon ROCK AND ROLL School music is flourishing, finds Charlotte Fairbairn FOCUS Heads, educationalists and psychologists talk about the power of an English education

REGULARS 83

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88 90 92

99 100

106 110

PARENTS 117 121

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GIRLS AND CREATIVITY The head of Heathfield on giving girls confidence to fly PERSONALITY INTERVIEW Annabel Heseltine talks to Dame Professor Ann Dowling STEM OR STEAM? Alice Phillips, head of St Catherine’s, ponders the question CONFESSIONS OF... A science teacher from Papplewick TEEN SPIRIT An Old Shiburnian completes the Mongol rally BEST OF... Integral members of the school community

UNIVERSITY NEWS What students need to know RUSSELL GROUP UNIVERSTIES Why they are no longer the only option, claims John Dabell CANNY CAREERS James Barton encourages thinking outside the box GET COVERED Eleanor Doughty on the best insurance for your teen

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SCHOOL’S OUT Ideas for home TOE THE LINE Victoria Lambert talks to Jennie Miller about setting boundaries for your teens BOOKS & APPS Supporting learning in creative ways FUN IN NUMBERS Anna Tyzack on group living at university SUMMER ACADEMIES Annabel Heseltine finds a holiday sporting solution at Forte Village SCHOOL MEMORIES Sandie Okoro recalls her days as a punk rocker at Putney High School GDST

DIRECTORY 133 182 254

LONDON SCHOOLS COUNTRY SCHOOLS SCHOOLS’ LISTINGS

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C O N T R I B U TO R S RICHARD ADDIS

A former editor at The Daily Express and Weekend FT, Richard is the founder and chairman of The Day, the news service for schools.

He also co-authored Good Value, an award-winning book on the morality of economics.

Richard’s first journalistic job was deputy editor of Homes & Jobs – he wrote the entire magazine under pseudonyms.

He writes our leader column on fake news.

PROF DAME ANN DOWLING

President of the Royal Academy of Engineering and Deputy Vice Chancellor and Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Cambridge, Dame Ann was appointed CBE for services to mechanical engineering in 2002, DBE for services to science in 2007 and the Order of Merit in 2016. She believes the UK needs to place a higher value on its engineers.

The author has written three books on French education including They Shoot School Kids, Don’t They? (2010), which was a bestseller in France and, more recently, French School Without Tears. British-born and educated, he has worked for publications including the Wall Street Journal and Time magazine. He has lived in Paris for 15 years and put both his daughters through the French system.

(They survived.)

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PHOTOS: © CAROLINE IRBY

PETER GUMBEL

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C O N T R I B U TO R S SANDIE OKORO

Sandie wanted to become a judge and was undeterred, aged nine, by the school teacher who told her, ‘Sandie, little black girls from Balham don’t become judges.’ She qualified as a barrister and then as a solicitor. She is now Senior Vice President of The World Bank and sits on the board of the Royal Shakespeare Company.

She attended Putney High School GDST in London.

DR HELEN WRIGHT

An educational specialist and former principal of three girls’ schools – Heathfield and St Mary’s Calne in the UK and Ascham School in Sydney – Helen advises organisations on international education.

She has taught in Hong Kong and the Middle East, bringing a global perspective to our focus piece.

RORY REILLY

Having grown up in rural Ireland, Rory was educated at Trinity College Dublin and has taught at King’s Hospital School, Dublin, KCS Wimbledon and The King’s School Canterbury, where he was registrar for admissions. Rory was on the geography interview panel at Hertford College, Oxford for 12 years and is now Director of Fairfield Education Consultants. He profiles Irish schools on page 42.

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EDITOR Annabel Heseltine EDITORIAL & PRODUCTION ASSISTANTS

Imogen Agnew and Chloe Smith WEBSITE EDITOR Imogen Agnew ART DIRECTOR Parm Bhamra JUNIOR PRODUCTION DESIGNER Ioulia Zoukova

PUBLISHER Camilla van Praagh ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE Melissa Campbell ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Sophie Oliver CREDIT CONTROLLER Penny Burles GROUP PUBLISHER Julia Carrick EDITOR IN CHIEF Lucy Cleland FINANCE DIRECTOR Jill Newey MANAGING DIRECTOR Jeremy Isaac CONTRIBUTING EDITORS

Anna Tyzack, Melanie Cable-Alexander, Victoria Lambert, Charlotte Fairbairn, Emma Love, Max Davidson, Eleanor Doughty EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES annabel.heseltine@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 © 2018 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. School House is published by Country & Town House Ltd.

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

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Schools run as businesses

Confessions of a science teacher

EDITOR’S LETTER I

am very excited by this issue of School House, with its line-up of excellent contributors and thought-provoking stories. The former Daily Express newspaper editor, Richard Addis, who is advising a special Parliamentary Commission on fake news and the teaching of critical literacy skills in schools, writes our leader column about deciphering the truth in current news reporting. I can see a few raised eyebrows there. No more so, however, than when those termly bills arrive. If English boarding school fees make your eyes water, cross the Irish Sea where government funding enables them to stay much lower, says Rory Reilly, who finds a number of excellent independent boarding schools on the Emerald Isle.

Melanie Cable-Alexander has ferreted out the truth behind the rise of corporate-owned independent schools and finds parents mind not a jot as long as the schools get results. Although, increasingly, educationalists are asking what is the cost of the pressure of modern education with its innumerable tests. In our focus feature, Have we Lost the Plot?, we find some interesting answers but, says Peter Gumbel – author of They Shoot School Kids, Don’t They?, which choreographs the pressures of the French education system – we are not alone.

In one aspect, continental Europe is streets ahead

School heroes

of the UK. Their appreciation of engineering as a career is far greater. Although there has been something of a renaissance recently, says Prof Dame Ann Dowling, President of the Royal Academy of Engineering, in the first of three articles considering the sciences. Dame Ann is encouraging Generation Z into engineering by highlighting the importance of design and creativity.

Indeed, says Alice Phillips, head of St Catherine’s, Bramley, STEAM including Art, is a far superior acronym to STEM – although snakes are the best way to get small boys interested, says Papplewick’s Head of Science in Confessions of...

James Barton has some canny career advice for clever students thinking outside the box and Sandie Okoro, Senior Vice President of the World Bank, remembers Putney High School GDST. I hope you enjoy the magazine.

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UP FRONT NEWS | EVENTS | COMMENT | OPINION

Beachborough, Northamptonshire

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Cottesmore School, West Sussex

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SCHOOL HOUSE SPRING/SU MMER 201 8

SAM HARDWICKE, EMILY CLEMENTS, ABIGAIL PENNY AND BERTIE VACHER OF COTTESMORE SCHOOL

Unusually, Cottesmore, a boarding and day prep school for 175 boys and girls in West Sussex, has up to four head boys and girls. This year, Emily Clements, 13, Bertie Vacher, 13, Abigail Perry, 12 and Sam Hardwicke, 13 were chosen for their maturity, kindness and contribution to the school. Tom Rogerson, whose family has owned and run the school since 1939 believes in flexibility. Emily, who has won an academic scholarship to Benenden, Kent lives in Switzerland and has a brother at Charterhouse, Surrey. She loves boarding (with exeats every second weekend) and keeps herself busy with crafty things like airfix – her latest creation is a warship – art, riding, skiing and studying for her grade 4 LAMDA. Bertie is heading off to Winchester, Hampshire, loves the freedom of Cottesmore and is passionate about the saxophone, piano, singing and football.

He is considering insurance as a career. Abi is taking music, sports and art scholarships for St Edwards, Oxford and is proud to be the only girl in the school to have her half-colours in hockey. Along with winning awards in swimming and netball, she has competed in the athletics Nationals, is taking grade 5 singing and says the teachers are like her second family, ‘you can talk to them about anything’. Sam from Sussex is taking an academic and sports scholarship to Worth, West Sussex. He feels strongly about the school’s ethos and communication between the head and pupils who need support. He is passionate about rugby (which he plays at county level) and cricket; he has won the poetry Declamations prize several times and is playing Mufasa in the school’s production of The Lion King.

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LEADER | UP FRONT

FI RST WO R D

WHEN TRUTH DIED Richard Addis, former editor of the Express newspaper, does battle with the deceptions of fake news

istorians of the future will look back at our lifetimes as one of the most volatile periods of all time.

I think they will conclude among other things that the first half of the 21st-century was when social market liberalism collapsed, when political parties became irrelevant, when print newspapers disappeared, when it became normal for the wealthy to lead active lives till beyond the age of 100, when robots took over logical and mechanical tasks, when weather became violent, when government became virtual and borderless, when pills could make you more intelligent, when travel was automated and geography became an anachronism, when successful head transplants became possible, when humanity made its first contact with aliens and when truth died.

When truth died? Well, yes. This summer a special parliamentary commission on Fake News and the Teaching of Critical Literacy Skills in Schools will make a series of recommendations for government, schools, teachers and parents after a year of gathering evidence from children and young people.

I am involved in this project.

A sneak preview of findings shows that in wealthy Western countries such as Britain, we are swiftly moving into what academics call a post-truth age.

This effectively means that we live in a time when fake news is rife, our leaders can’t be trusted and objective facts are less influential than appeals to emotion. This is alarming because it allows the rise of demagogues and tyrants from both right and left and it devalues all forms of natural and social science, including, of course, work, climate change and public health.

The commission’s specific fear is that children and young people today are growing up in a globalised world and processing information from a wider variety of sources than ever before, yet they do not have the critical literacy skills to navigate the potential pitfalls when consuming news, particularly when using online sources and social media.

It has identified five types of fake news: intentionally deceptive, jokes taken at face value, large-scale hoaxes, slanted reporting of real facts,

H

and stories where the truth is contentious.

The problem is massive because, globally, one in three internet users is under the age of 18, with 12 to 15-year-olds spending on average more than 20 hours a week online. Fifty eight per cent of eight to 11-year-olds and 72 per cent of 12 to 15-year-olds surveyed said they visited news sites or apps.

Of these, just over a fifth believed all the information they read without questioning it.

Worryingly, a 2017 survey of UK adults found that only four per cent of respondents were able to identify all three true new stories presented within a selection of six; almost half believed at least one of the three fake news stories to be true.

It is clear that our schools are absolutely vital in encouraging children to burrow through the rubbish and rootle out the truth.

Many thinkers recommend that critical digital literacy should be taught as part of the curriculum.

I agree, as long as we focus on thinking for yourself.

There is a long history of ideas about truth and freedom. Many of them can be distilled down to this simple idea: Pope, Kant and Schopenhauer, among others, agreed that ‘only our own fundamental ideas have truth and life; for it is they alone which we really and thoroughly understand.’

How do we teach this?

Paulo Freire, who invented critical literacy in 1967, said we should stop thinking of children as containers to be filled up with knowledge and instead create experiences that offer them a chance to build their own knowledge.

Schools should become spaces where students can talk daily about issues that are significant to their lives. Teachers should work their magic like skillful hosts at dinner parties. Freire said this wonderful thing: ‘Knowledge emerges only through invention and re-invention, through the restless, impatient, continuing, hopeful inquiry human beings pursue in the world, with the world and with each other.’

If our children learn to think for themselves I am sure we can win the war against fake news.

‘We live in a time when fake news is rife, our leaders can’t be trusted and objective facts are less influential than appeals to emotion’

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NEWS | UP FRONT

WHAT’S UP? Academic news

IB AND TES JOIN FORCES

On its 50th anniversary, the International Baccalaureate (IB) has joined up with TES to launch a resource-sharing service to improve learning outcomes. TES is the world’s largest community of education professionals providing resources such as lesson plans for curriculum subjects. They will host an algorithmic review and ratings system to judge resources and the best will be highlighted on the site.

BEHAVIOURCHECK APP

EXAM STRESSES

Primary school children are nearly as stressed about exams as GCSE pupils, finds research by Oxford Home Schooling. Thirty three per cent of primary school parents say their child is stressed by exams, compared to 37 per cent of secondary school pupils. Between the ages of five and 16, children will sit at least four rounds of compulsory exams, not including the 11+ and Common Entrance.

Seventy per cent of UK schools have signed up to an app, ClassDojo, which updates parents on their child’s behaviour and shares photos of classroom moments through alerts straight to their phone.

IT’S ALL IN THE TIMING An English school that trialled the start time of 10am instead of 8.30am found that student illness was halved and there was an improvement in academic performance.

BOOK WORMS The British Library has found that reading and writing is the most popular arts activity for five to 15 year olds and that Julia Donaldson, Daisy Meadows and Roderick Hunt were the three ‘mostborrowed’ children’s authors.

SUPRISING RESULTS

Explore Learning, a tutoring company, found that maths was the most enjoyable subject among four to 14 year olds (26 per cent), followed by PE (20 per cent) and then art (16 per cent).

ABOVE: The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson RIGHT: The British Library

EXTRA TIME

According to Ofqual, one in five independent school students are getting extra time in GCSE and A-level exams. Last year 223,405 pupils received extra time, compared to just 164,390 in 2013/14. Critics say the figures ‘make a mockery’ of the system and will harm the credibility of the public examinations. Peter Hamilton, spokesman for the Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference’s Academic Policy Committee, attributes this to ‘ever-improving monitoring and awareness of special needs’.

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Brighton College encourages its pupils to play board games and be outdoors

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HEAD VIEW | UP FRONT

A CONNECTED WORLD

Mobile phones are here to stay but schools need to strike a balance, advises Richard Cairns of Brighton College and Health, concluded that time spent on a mobile phone surfing alk past any school gate as the pupils are streaming the internet is associated with increased probability of getting out at the end of the day and where you once saw involved in cyberbullying, both as a victim and as a perpetrator. children laughing and chatting, you now see heads And those youngsters who are most at risk are those who were down, eyes fixed on phones, their minds already given a mobile phone at a young age. So, there can be no doubt disengaged from the human hubbub around them. that children need guidance about mobile phone use.

All the research suggests that this should ring alarm bells Here, at Brighton College, we decided to introduce a ban on mobiles in every school in the land. Academics are telling us that excessive for Years 7, 8 and 9 with limited access for older pupils which we have mobile phone usage is a significant factor in potential mental termed ‘digital detox days’. In conjunction with this, we bought dozens health issues, is repeatedly associated with insomnia and of good old-fashioned board games, which we put in every house general psychological distress, and contributes directly to common room, in the hope that pupils, minus their phones, might take academic underperformance. it upon themselves to indulge in a game of Monopoly, Cluedo or Trivial A BBC poll showed teens spent an average of three to four hours Pursuit. In addition, we set every night on social networks down minimum expectations and were losing sleep checking on pupils to attend at least four their notifications, often in the games or activities, clubs and middle of the night. Research societies each week. in the journal Current I simply want to provide Problems of Psychiatry notes time and space for youngsters that individuals who engage to rediscover the art of in high levels of mobile phone conversation, to look up and use often experience stress, notice the wonderful (and anger and anxiety when they sometimes not so wonderful) can’t get to their phone. world around them and to When you look at mobiles discover the pleasures of board in educational settings games and physical activity. specifically, the picture does Talking to the children not improve. A large-scale since the ban has been study of 91 UK schools showed fascinating. One girl, that schools that banned a boarder, told me that phones benefited from during break time she has an increase in results, with A three-year study found depressive been going outside a lot more gains being driven primarily symptoms in children may contribute and chatting with friends by children in the bottom instead of checking her social 60 per cent of the cohort. to an increase in mobile phone use, and This 60 per cent are those conversely mobile phone use may contribute media. She added that she was sleeping longer at night, youngsters who are being left to an increase in depressive symptoms as boarders are not allowed behind in too many schools, their phones after 10pm, with devastating consequences so she was not feeling obliged for their future prospects. The to check every notification that pinged through on her phone. authors of the study concluded that the distraction and low-level Another told me he had been reading a lot more in bed and disruption caused by mobile phones were behind the results. had been quietly discovering new authors he enjoyed.

There’s a vicious circle at play here. A three-year study of 1,877 There is still much to be done. Smart phones and tablets Korean adolescents found depressive symptoms in children may connect us with the world and offer up incredible learning contribute to an increase in mobile phone use and, conversely, mobile opportunities. However, there seems to be a heavy price to be paid phone use may contribute to an increase in depressive symptoms. for being accessible 24/7, coming under constant digital scrutiny One final unnerving piece of research: the authors of a 2017 study on school performance, cyber bullying and mobile phone use, by peers and feeling pressure to maintain online popularity and which appeared in the International Journal of Adolescent Medicine no one, surely, would want this for our young people.

W

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UP FRONT | PREP NEWS

PREP SCHOOLS Remembrance, rhinos and robots

Free music lessons at Latymer Prep School

Rhinos take to the skies

IN PRAISE OF THE ARTS

REMEMBERING THE PAST

Pupils at Milbourne Lodge School, Surrey took part in a Remembrance service outside. Pupils at Walhampton Prep School, Hampshire travelled to Holland to meet veterans of the Battle of Arnhem and hear their stories. Pupils at Parkside School, Surrey immersed themselves in the role of World War II evacuees for a day.

Teachers and students dressed up for a Victorian Day at St Andrew’s Prep, East Sussex. To commemorate the fallen, pupils and friends of Ashdown House, East Sussex walked to the site where a sortie of airmen crashed in their plane.

SPORTING HERIOCS

Year 6 pupils at The Dragon School, Oxford swam the length of the English Channel (1,416 lengths of the pool) to raise money for ‘Rhinos Without Borders’ which airlifts rhinos from areas of poaching in South Africa to protected areas in Botswana. The Under 8s at Papplewick School, Berkshire enjoyed the annual Boys vs. Mums football match. Despite the physical advantage, the mothers came out on top with a score of 13-8.

Seven pupils and one member of staff from Taunton Preparatory School, Somerset took part in the Exmoor Open Water Swim on the Wimbleball Reservoir, with 12-year-old pupil Ollie Heard winning first place. A pupil from The Elms School in Derbyshire, Karan Landa, has been invited to train at the home of GB Taekwondo in Manchester to prepare for the ITF Open World Championships. Ten parents and teachers from the House Schools, London completed the Mont Blanc Challenge in aid of the House Schools Trust after overcoming snowdrifts, fatigue, altitude sickness, not to mention the mountain!

PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES

One pupil from Cranleigh Prep, Surrey has been selected for the National Youth Choir and another for the National Children’s Choir for the 2018 season.

Two budding chess players from The Falcons Pre-Preparatory for Boys in London reached the semi-final of the Gigafinal chess competition. North Bridge House Prep School, London enlisted the help of Matatu the pug to help with Year 3’s reading sessions. The Duke of York visited pupils at Horris Hill, Berkshire. Latymer Prep School, London are offering one term of free weekly instrumental lessons in their newly refurbished Seahorse Studio.

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Multiculturalism is celebrated

YOUNG ACORNS Talented students making their mark

BIATHLE VICTORY Gabi Holland from Copthorne Preparatory School in West Sussex came eighth in the Biathle World Championships and contributed to the U13 team winning the silver medal.

ROBOTICS Harrison Kelly of Sevenoaks Prep, Kent produced a robot design that was placed in the top 20 out of of 900 submissions in a competition organised by the University of Greenwich. The brief was to design a robot to compete in a Robot Wars battle.

GOLD MEDAL

PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES

Jack Amor, a Millfield Prep, Somerset pupil is the U13 Triathle World Champion having won a gold in the mixed GB relay at the World Championships held in Viviero, Spain.

BOOKS GALORE Lauren Coook of Ashfold School, Buckinghamshire won BBC Radio 2’s 500 Words short story-writing competition with her story entitled The Kindest of Strangers.

Her prize is 500 books for her school library.

SCIENTIFIC SUCCESS

Britain’s first astronaut Helen Sharman OBE launched Kensington Prep School’s Explore Floor, a creative space for learning. The Mall School, London won first and second place at the South West London heat of the National Years 5 and 6 Science Championship held at Surbiton High School, London, having answered a very challenging set of questions.

Pupils spent the day learning how to design, make, launch and test their own rockets when Sedbergh Prep School, Cumbria hosted a STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and maths) day with pupils from local schools. Hazlegrove Pre-Prep, Somerset celebrated Apple Day, weighing, rolling and peeling apples.

INTERNATIONAL OUTLOOK

Pupils at St Anthony’s for Girls, London celebrated Multicultural Week which saw them partaking in themed activities, learning about different traditions and cultures as well as different languages. To mark Languages Day, pupils and staff at Portland Place School, London donned national dress and colours of their home country and celebrated languages from all around the world. To raise money for the Hurricane Irma Relief, Edge Grove School, Hertfordshire pupils slept on the floor in the sports hall in a makeshift ‘evacuation centre’.

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FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS

CHANGING FACES Heads on the move

Colin MacIntosh has been appointed head of Ashfold School, Buckinghamshire.

He is currently deputy head of Beaudesert Park School in Gloucestershire.

Edgeborough School, Surrey welcomed Dan Thornburn as their new head in September 2017.

Dan was previously headmaster at St Petroc’s School in Cornwall.

DANCE YOUR SOCKS OFF Sandroyd School, Wiltshire has unveiled an exciting new dance studio, fitted with audio-visual equipment, lighting, a spring floor and floor-to-ceiling mirrors.

Equestrian centre for prep school

New pre-school in Hertfordshire

Architecturally astounding

Sedbergh Prep School, Cumbria unveiled a purpose-built equestrian centre including an outdoor arena and jumping paddock, with cross country and show jumps.

Edge Grove Pre-School, Hertforshire opened its doors in September 2017.

The state-of-the-art learning environment comprises a science kitchen, computer suite and construction area.

A new building at St Benedict’s Junior School in Ealing was nominated for a Royal Insitute of British Architects award. It has been hailed as an eco-friendly landmark for London.

New astro for Cottesmore Leah Wilkinson of the Wales national hockey squad officially opened the new Astroturf at Cottesmore School, West Sussex and gave the girls an excellent training session.

West Buckland School in Devon will welcome Nick Robinson as headmaster in the summer term 2018.

He is currently head at Bedales Prep in Hampshire.

Keith Morrow will take on the headship role at Hallfield School, Birmingham in September 2018.

Currently he is headmaster at The Elms School, Nottingham.

Tom Morgan is leaving his role as deputy head at the Prebendal School, Chichester and will become headmaster of King’s Rochester Preparatory, Kent from September 2018.

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PREP NEWS | UP FRONT

IN THE PIPELINE Christian Pritchard will become the 8th head of Beachborough School, Northants in September 2018.

Previously he was head of Ranby House, the prep school of Worksop College.

Loretto Junior School has appointed a new headmaster, Andrew Dickenson, who will start in August 2018.

Previously, he was head of the junior school at Kelvinside Academy.

New prep school on the block

Surrey School to welcome seniors

All change at Lanesborough

Cardinal House School, a new independent school in Brook Green, London will open it doors to 5-13 year olds with learning difficulties in September 2018. They aim to enable children to access as much of the National Curriculum as possible.

Downsend School, Surrey will expand to include a Senior School from September 2020.

The new senior school will see girls and boys through the completion of a new three-year GCSE programme.

Lanesborough School, Surrey will move from being 3-13 to 3-11 years from September 2019. It will simultaneously increase the number of places available for boys joining the school aged seven. This is in response to the demand for senior school places at age 11.

In September 2018, Olivia Buchanan will take over as head of The Falcons Preparatory School for Boys, Richmond.

She is moving from her current position of deputy head at The Hall School, Hampstead.

The Falcons School for Girls, Putney will welcome new head, Sara Williams-Ryan, from September 2018. Sara is currently the assistant head at Emanuel School, Wandsworth.

Cranleigh Prep School, Surrey’s new Headmaster will be Neil Brooks, currently principal of Fulham Prep Schools. He will join Cranleigh in September 2018.

BILINGUAL SCHOOL TO EXPAND Ecole Jeanine Manuel, London is to open an Upper School and will have two Year 11 classes in September 2018. Pupils will be given the choice of studying either the International Option of the French Baccalaureate or the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. n Spring/Summer 2018 | SCHOOLHOUSEMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 31

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At Sunningdale, education is about so much more than passing exams

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HEAD VIEW | UP FRONT

PROTESTING THE PRE-TEST Tom Dawson, headmaster of boys’ prep school, Sunningdale, advises parents on how to navigate the entry process into senior school

appreciation and enjoyment of learning. It should not be narrowed baby is born. Congratulations and huge smiles on the down to focus on testing. parents’ faces was followed by a dash to the telephone Not only do the pupils need to be prepared for the tests themselves to put their precious child down for the most but they also need to be able to cope if the results do not go their way. prestigious schools to guarantee a place at 13. Until Building resilience in children is essential but we must guard against recently that was all parents needed to do until Henry destroying their confidence, through subjecting them to a succession or Henrietta was approaching their final year at prep school. of failures. This is where the school and the parents come in.

Not so anymore. Although introduced with the best of It is essential that the prep school head is open and honest about intentions, the process of entry into senior school involving the advice they give to parents. We pre-testing is now fraught with want to keep the parents happy and uncertainty, nervous tension and do the best we can for their children a battery of tests from the tender but we must be realistic in the age of ten. Eton introduced a schools that we advise them to apply pre-assessment first, but now most for. It is important to aim high, of the leading senior independent we owe that to the pupils, but schools have followed suit. we must aim high with realism.

Now, pupils can expect to be What I try to do is suggest three tested in Year 6, often using the schools for each boy; two of which ISEB Common Pre-Test, then again are at the top end of his ability and in Year 7 at their chosen school one which is a safer bet. What worries and finally sit Common Entrance me is that a number of fantastic or a Scholarship exam in Year 8. schools, who traditionally accepted Were this to be for one school, the a broader range of children, are process might not be too stressful. raising the bar. Why? What is wrong The reality, however, is that because with being a broader church? The competition for places is so fierce, top pupils at most of these schools pupils will apply to at least three will do just as well as at others. If the schools, and sometimes many more. school accepted a broader range, The ISEB Common Pre-Test was they would get fantastic pupils originally designed to reduce the with different strengths. number of tests that the pupils had ‘What schools have failed to The parents themselves have to sit. The utopian aim seemed to appreciate is the stress that the a crucial role to play in making sure lean towards a UCAS-style system pre-test puts on pupils. Children are, that they do not put their children where a pupil would sit one test and under unnecessary strain. I urge all the results would be shared between quite rightly, ambitious and often, parents to listen to the advice of their senior schools, who could then select their parents even more so’ child’s prep school head and also not the pupils they wanted to interview. to heap pressure on their children to To some extent this has happened. get into a particular school.

However, one problem is that Children love to please and if they know that mum and dad are different schools ask pupils to sit the tests at different times, so lessons desperate for them to pass into school x, they will be terrified of are missed and time is lost in sitting an abundance of tests. letting them down. We spend a good deal of time explaining to the What schools have failed to appreciate is the stress that this boys that, while they must give it their best shot, they will ultimately puts on the pupils. Children are, quite rightly, ambitious and, end up at a school that is right for them and if they don’t get into often their parents even more so. So, at a time when children’s a particular school, it is not because they have failed, it is simply mental health how can we, in our schools, help them through because that school does not feel they would thrive there. this process and make it as painless as possible?

We all want our pupils to succeed and we want them to get into Preparation is key. It saddens me that we have had to give over fantastic senior schools. Most of all, though, we should want them some lessons in the timetable to familiarise our boys with the type of tests that they will face. Education should be about opening our pupils’ to be happy and a part of me can’t help wishing that the process was all so much simpler. eyes to the wonders of the world, to the joys of language and to an

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UP FRONT | SENIOR NEWS

SENIOR SCHOOLS Thespians, apps and upcycling are all part of the show

Heathfield School, Ascot pupils learn how to fly

Diane Abbott at Lancing College, Sussex

SUCCESS IN STEM

Two pupils from Bede’s School in Sussex travelled to the USA to represent the UK and EU in the final of the Space Design Competition at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. A team from the City of London School won a gold medal at the iGEM finals in the USA for their novel technique to diagnose cancer.

A pupil from Whitgift School, London fronted a campaign by ARM, a technology company, to raise awareness of how technology can benefit future generations. Pupils from Heathfield School, Ascot took to the skies in a hot air balloon to investigate the principals of flying.

FAMOUS FACES

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland gave a lecture to girls at Benenden, Kent on his career in politics.

Lancing College, Sussex hosted a programme of BBC Radio 4’s Any Questions? in their chapel, including a lively debate between Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott and Minister of State for Disabled People, Health and Work, Penny Mordaunt. Nick Wheeler, founder and chair of Charles Tyrwhitt Shirts, visited Milton Abbey School, Dorset as their Entrepreneur in Residence.

TERRIFIC TRADITIONS Pupils from Christ’s Hospital, West Sussex paraded through the City of London on St Matthew’s Day, celebrating almost five centuries of links with the City. Eight pupils from Dauntsey’s School, Wiltshire spent 30 days at sea, racing in the International Rendez-vous 2017 Tall Ships Regatta from Nova Scotia to Plymouth aboard the school’s tall ship, Jolie Brise.

The Jolie Brise

PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES

SPORTING ENDEAVOURS

New boarding students at DLD College, London had a day out rock climbing and abseiling. Despite a mid-race crash during the 2017 UCI Road World Championships that saw her fall off her bike, Millfield School, Somerset pupil Lauren Dolan finished in 27th place. Pupils and staff from Taunton School, Somerset swam 2.5 miles across the Solent to the Isle of Wight to raise money for spinal charity Aspire. 12-year-old pupil Ollie Heard set a new record of just 53 minutes.

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YOUNG ACORNS

St Mary’s Calne’s production of Cabaret

Talented students making their mark

NO WASTE NOVEMBER Tilly Gratton of James Allen’s Girls’ School, London launched the No Waste November campaign. Tilly was inspired to cut down on waste by the Roots and Shoots programme which empowers schools and universities to make positive changes in aid of the environment.

MUSICAL MATTERS

HAIKU SUCCESS Gracie Starkey, a 14-year-old Wycliffe College, Gloucestershire pupil has become the first nonJapanese person to win a Haiku competition that attracts two million entries. She was flown to Tokyo for the unveiling of the winners.

The string quartet from Felsted School, Essex performed at the Royal Albert Hall. The recital was organised by the national youth arts charity, Music for Youth. The Young Chorister of the Year 2016 and pupil of King’s Rochester School, Kent, Edward Hyde, performed at a fundraising gala for The Friends of Cathedral Music held in Mansion House and hosted by HRH The Duchess of Gloucester and the Lord Mayor of London. St Mary’s Calne pupils produced a performance of Cabaret, featuring a wonderful 16-piece band, to packed audiences.

OPEN TO DEBATE

MUSICAL RECOGNITION St Swithun’s, Winchester pupil Anna Benton won the Winchester Rotary Young Musician Festival with an enchanting performance of Rondeau Allegro, the third movement from Mozart’s Oboe Quartet in F major K370.

Debates, discussions and discourse

PRAISE FROM CAMBRIDGE

PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES

Natasha Treagust from Canford School, Dorset has won a prize in the inaugural Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge essay competition.

She wrote about communication with people with learning disabilities.

TENNIS ACE A Merchiston Castle School, Edinburgh pupil has been awarded the prestigious Raymond Miquel Award, 2017 from Tennis Scotland.

Matthew is the number one U14 player in Scotland and number 68 in the UK.

LITERARY HAPPENINGS Downside School, Somerset pupils have transcribed a set of original war letters written by Francis Raymund James, a former Downside pupil, who fought on the Western Front during the Great War. Godolphin School, Wiltshire hosted a literary festival attracting over a thousand people, with talks from an array of writers including Giles Hattersley.

Mayfield School, East Sussex hosted the 2017 AGENDA poetry festival, headlined by John Burnside.

Bromley High School, Kent won first place at Eton College, Berkshire’s inaugural debating competition.

Students from Stamford Endowed Schools, Lincolnshire retained the Oswald Elliott Cup debating competition held at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge.

On the International Day of the Girl, St Mary’s School, Cambridge hosted its fifth Girl Power Conference debating ‘STEM solutions towards a sustainable world’.

WAKE-UP CALL The head at Lady Eleanor Holles School, Middlesex has given all pupils an alarm clock to quash the need for phones in bedrooms.

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UP FRONT | SENIOR NEWS

FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS

CHANGING FACES Heads on the move

Ashfold School, Buckinghamshire will welcome Colin MacIntosh as the new head from September 2018.

He is currently deputy head at Beaudesert Park School, Gloucestershire.

Martin Collier became head of Haileybury School in September 2017, having previously been head at St John’s School, Leatherhead.

Indoor Cricket Centre Reed’s School, Surrey has unveiled a new cricket centre, which boasts five cricket nets and is the first facility in the country to have PitchVision technology (which combines motion tracking and video analysis) fully integrated into the construction of the lanes. The centre was officially opened in January 2018.

A Space Dedicated to Student Wellbeing

Lord Clarke Opens New Building

Snazzy New Dorms for Middle School

Felsted School, Essex has opened a wellbeing centre which will provide a calm, relaxing place for pupils to take time out.

Oakham School, Leicestershire has unveiled its new faculty of social sciences which includes ‘brainstorming’ tables.

Queenswood School, Hertfordshire has undergone a £3m boarding accommodation refurbishment.

Christopher Ramsey became headmaster of Whitgift School, London in September 2017. He was previously head at The King’s School, Chester.

Cliff Canning has become headmaster of Hampshire Collegiate School, joining from St Christopher School in Hertfordshire where he was deputy head.

Irfan Latif has just taken up the position of Principal at DLD College, London, moving from Sexey’s School in Somerset where he was headmaster.

PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES

GIDDY UP Kent College, Canterbury unveiled its new 30 x 40 metre riding arena in September 2017. The Friends of Kent College gifted jumps, including fences and hedges.

Gavin Horgan will become headmaster at Millfield, Somerset in September 2018.

He is currently the deputy head of The Glasgow Academy.

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SENIOR NEWS | UP FRONT

IN THE PIPELINE Bart Wielenga has been appointed head of Blundell’s and will start in September 2018.

He is currently second master at the Devon school.

Kensington Park School, London has appointed Paul Vanni as headmaster, who moves from London’s St Paul’s Girls’ School.

Co-ed for Charterhouse

First Refurb in over a Century for Monastery

Charterhouse, Surrey is to become fully co-educational from 2021. The pupil roll will increase to around 1,000 and a new girls’ house will be built to accommodate them.

Ampleforth Monastery, Yorkshire is undergoing a £6.8m refurbishment its restore the 19thcentury monastery; its first refurbishment in 120 years.

Performing Arts Space Work has begun at Sherborne Girls’ School, Dorset on their new arts centre, including a music studio and a 300-seat recital hall. The development will link the drama, music and art departments.

Stephanie Ferro became headmistress of Walthamstow Hall School, Kent in January, joining from Lady Eleanor Holles School, London.

Keith Morrow will become head of Hallfield School, Birmingham in September 2018.

He is currently headmaster at The Elms School in Nottingham.

Judith FremontBarnes will become head of Milton Abbey, Dorset in September 2018. She is currently head of Duke of Kent School, Surrey.

PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES

Magnus Bashaarat will become head of Bedales School, Hampshire in September 2018, moving from Milton Abbey School, Dorset.

A WHOLE SCHOOL EFFORT St John’s School, Leatherhead has raised £1.5m to upgrade its sports facilities, the first independent school in the country to raise loan finance from its own network of supporters. Pupils from Rydal Penrhos in Wales led a campaign to renovate their sixth-form centre.

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AN ACCENT OR TWO

Nicholas Otten promotes the advantages of learning in multi-lingual schools

fter many years of educating children, there is no doubt in my mind that starting them off with a bilingual education at an early nursery age can have enormous benefits to their development.

Aged three, a child’s mind is like a sponge, it can absorb new information presented to it more easily than an older child, and therefore is better equipped to assimilate a second language, as it is not yet conditioned by previous learning.

The younger the child, the easier it is.

The beauty of starting early is that you have pretty much a blank sheet of paper to work with, so whatever your nationality

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is, or whichever language you speak at home, it is easier. If your child only speaks one language with you and you give him or her a bilingual education this can help to acquire an additional language as part of a natural process.

Immersing your child in a second language on a daily basis at an early age not only helps the child to become proficient in this second language but also opens doors to other opportunities.

Children with a bilingual education are more adaptable and they tend to have a broader outlook and greater awareness of different races and nationalities. They become more understanding of others, more tolerant and more aware of the world in general, while also

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BILINGUAL SCHOOLS | UP FRONT

ABOVE: Bilingualism opens many doors TOP RIGHT: Headmaster with pupils at L’Ecole de Battersea BELOW: Bilingual children are better at multitasking

gaining self confidence and a sense of responsibility to themselves and to others. Language is not just about learning sets of words and grammar, it is also learning about another culture.

In a world that is constantly changing, communication is becoming increasingly important. Children who are able to communicate with a variety of cultures are the ones who will have more advantages in life.

And there are some practical and cognitive benefits too. Introduced at an early age, a bilingual education has been proven to help develop the brain. Children become able to use two languages at the same time, switching constantly, developing skills in overcoming inhibitions, increasing concentration skills and working memory. Consequently children who are educated bilingually often perform better on tasks that require multi-tasking, decision making and problem solving, even though the particular situation may have nothing to do with language.

An early start also opens up the possibility of taking on a third language with much more ease. This will allow you and your child more choices when choosing a secondary school, where the options of A-levels or the International Baccalaureate are available and then further education, be it at a UK university or abroad.

It is also a definite advantage for those going abroad for work experience or even on a gap year.

Being fluent in an extra language can make a candidate stand out from other prospective employees. It can open doors to extra opportunities that others without these skills may miss out on. In today’s growing global economy, those with a bilingual education have the advantage.

Now that we are on the cusp of Brexit it is more important than ever to maintain

ties with Europe. Having a better ingrained understanding of other cultures and a fluency of other languages will put our children in a stronger position to address successfully the demands of our future relationship with Europe, both in terms of competitiveness and cooperation.

But not just in Europe. With the development of digital technology, and unknown future technological advances yet to be conceived, the world grows ever smaller and comes increasingly closer to our own doorstep. Therefore, the importance of understanding other languages and cultures with an agile and receptive mind that has been developed through a bilingual education becomes more and more essential. n Nick Otten is the co-founder of L’Ecole des Petits & L’Ecole de Battersea, bi-lingual schools for three to 11-year-olds.

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FEATURES PROFILE | SCHOOLS | FINA NCE | EDUCATION | FOCUS

Glenstal Abbey, Ireland

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St Columba’s College, Dublin

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A CELTIC EDUCATION Rory Reilly argues that parents interested in boarding their children should look to the Emerald Isle

ull boarding on the island of Ireland may be half the cost of that on mainland Britain but it would be a mistake to imagine that what is on offer is an inferior product. Boarding in the Republic of Ireland is less expensive, simply because the state pays the salaries of many of the teachers and this removes a significant financial burden from school budgets. Quite a number of schools offer a mix of day and boarding but three offer top quality, seven-day boarding which compares favourably with that on offer by their higher profile cousins across the water: co-ed St Columba’s College with 340 pupils near Dublin and the two boys’ schools, Clongowes Wood College with 440 boys in County Meath and Glenstal Abbey with 250 boys in County Limerick.

Apart from the fees which hover around an annual € 20,000 to € 23,000, one significant difference between the UK and ROI is that schools in the Republic cannot select on the basis of academic ability. ‘When league tables are what matter most then preselection and screening out of children who are less academic becomes the most important thing,’ says Mark Boobbyer, head of St Columba’s, ‘it is a relief to be in a system where I can do what is best for each child rather than worrying about league table standings’.

Fr William Fennelly, head of Glenstal, talks in terms of ‘making a virtue of the legal framework, and it works’. He sees the process of joining Glenstal ‘as a conversation between the parent and the school’. It must be child-focused if it is to work and the important question is ‘do we suit the child?’ not the other way around.

Like its UK counterpart, the Republic of Ireland’s curriculum has two set-piece examinations. The Junior Certificate is taken at the age of 15 and the Leaving Certificate at 18. This latter course is studied over a pupil’s final two years and like the IB a minimum of six subjects are taken at Higher or Ordinary Level. Those applying to the top universities in Ireland, the UK, Europe or the US will generally take Higher Level courses whereas the Ordinary Level will allow access onto courses more suited to those whose interests may be less academic. The final qualification is in a points, rather than grade format and is accepted by all UK universities.

Between the Junior and Leaving Certificates sits the Transition Year. Without exams or a set curriculum this is an opportunity for schools and indeed pupils to set the agenda. Fr William Fennelly describes it as being ‘truly liberating’, a time when ‘pupils own their academic ambitions and choices, where they are free to learn

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different skills and studies, whether these are in the fields of engineering or drama’. During this year pupils go on exchange to schools in Germany, France, the US or Australia, engage in charity work and explore the nature of learning as well as the workplace. It represents a release from the confines of an examined curriculum and it allows schools the opportunity to focus on extra-curricular learning which is all too rare in today’s schooling.

It is hugely popular with those coming to these schools from overseas as it provides a less pressured introduction to the Irish system before embarking on those final pre-university courses.

For expat families holding EU passports, the ROI schools offer yet another distinct advantage.

Three years spent in an Irish boarding school grants non EEA domiciled pupils access to European universities at European rates. This can represent a huge saving. The top pupils will apply to Oxford or Cambridge, alongside Trinity and UCD and a small but significant number apply to the US and to Europe. Five from Glenstal went on to study in Holland last year while one went to Oxford and two more to NYU and Notre Dame in the US. St Columba’s regularly sends 20 to 30 per cent of its pupils to top Russell Group universities, while Trinity and UCD dominate the Clongowes’ list with one heading for Cambridge to read Natural Sciences and another to the US last year.

Boarding tends to run along a horizontal line with year groups moving up the houses together.

Only St Columba’s runs along the more traditional British house system where houses are organised vertically, possibly because of the size of the schools with relatively small year groups. At the

ABOVE: Rathdown School, Co. Dublin BELOW: Glenstal Abbey School, Co. Limerick

lower end, dormitories are the norm while sixthformers tend to have single or double rooms, albeit not quite at Home Counties standard.

Despite working in the same jurisdiction and following the same curriculum, these three schools are quite distinctive. St Columba’s is a top class co-educational boarding school. It sits on a wonderful elevated site overlooking Dublin, just 35 minutes from the airport, in the foothills of the Wicklow Mountains. Head Mark Boobbyer, previously head of Tiger Kloof Educational Institute on the edge of the Kalahari in South Africa, has struck gold with this gem of a school. It has a familiar formality and the pupils wear gowns to lessons. It also ranks close to the very top when it comes to average points score per pupil at Leaving Certificate.

Clongowes Wood College, just 40 minutes west of Dublin, is the biggest boarding school in the country with 440 boys. This is the school of the modern-day politician, entrepreneur, international rugby player and member of the judiciary. Alumni include the literary greats, James Joyce and Oliver St John Gogarty, businessmen Michael O’Leary and Sir Michael Smurfit, and over three centuries of Irish politicians from John Redmond of the Irish Parliamentary Party to current Deputy Prime Minister Simon Coveney and former Taoiseach John Bruton.

Deputy head Martin Wallace is tasked with developing an innovative educational philosophy which is more in tune with 21st-century needs but yet is compatible with a Jesuit education. Martin says, ‘While we frequently quote Yeats to the effect that education is not the filling of a pail, the reality has been that much of what we have been doing in our schools has been exactly that.’ He is convinced that both teaching methods and classroom design need to evolve. ‘Square boxes and straight lines of desks reflect the mindset of the Industrial Revolution with its emphasis on

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FEATURE | IRISH SCHOOLS PROFILE

mass production and conformity of practice.’

He wants the new sixth-form centre to provide ‘spaces that stimulate creativity and innovation.’

Glenstal is a Benedictine School with a relaxed, informal feel. It is the smallest of these schools with just 250 boys. As the monks would have done in earlier times, pupils and staff address one another by their first names. This is not some liberal affectation, it is as it always has been here.

While the library is a wonderful Hogwarts-style circular room, the classrooms are modern and spacious with glazing overlooking the botanical gardens below. The atmosphere is respectful, considerate and supportive. Turning out young men of integrity is important to William Fennelly, ‘what they actually do matters’. One of my nephews described his old school as ‘the organic farm’ of boarding schools, though I suspect rugby and hunting are more often topics of conversation than actual farming.

Apart from these three, a number of high quality schools in Dublin offer a mix of day and boarding. Co-ed King’s Hospital School is 40 per cent boarding, while the 90 or so boys at Blackrock represent just 10 per cent of the total roll. Wesley College has two boarding houses, for girls and boys, while Alexandra College and Rathdown School are girls only.

Headfort in County Meath is the only boarding prep school in ROI. The boys and girls live and learn in this huge rambling Georgian mansion which also houses the most magnificent Robert Adam interior. Some are prepared for entry to the cream of English public schools while many will move onto the schools mentioned above. It is a school which positively

ABOVE: The King’s Hospital School, Dublin BELOW: Alexandra College, Dublin

encourages the freedom of spirit. Pupils appear to run free, trees are climbed, forts built, ponies ridden across country, but headmaster, Dermot Dix, recognises that alongside this is the requirement to engage in quality academic learning which he provides with bundles of idiosyncratic style.

North of the border in Northern Ireland, the model is different. All the schools follow the GCSE, A-level programme but again fees are far below the rest of the UK. Campbell College in Belfast has the feel of a smaller Haileybury or Malvern with its impressive buildings from where you can actually see the planes land at Belfast City Airport. Campbell is a traditional boys’ school with a huge emphasis on sport, particularly rugby. Day pupils pass through a competitive 11+ process while the school has its own admissions criteria for the circa 200 boarding places.

The Royal School Armagh, which is to lose its dynamic head, Paul Crute, to the new Nord Anglia international day school in Dublin, has built up an impressive boarding section in a number of elegant town houses in the city of Armagh. With almost 150 boarders it rivals Campbell in terms of numbers. It has a very businesslike approach and does exactly what it says on the tin. It takes in bright kids and delivers them out in numbers to Queen’s Belfast, Trinity Dublin and a variety of English and Scottish universities.

Boarding at the co-ed Rockport, to the east of Belfast, and at the all girls Victoria College is on a much smaller scale.

We try so hard to get it right for our children when choosing schools but for many the fees for boarding are prohibitive. If boarding is a model you are drawn to then do think about taking the short flight to Dublin or Belfast. Irish schools offer a valid alternative to the UK. With a far less stressful entry processes and shorter lead-in times, schools in northern Ireland and the ROI appear to be both accessible and affordable. n

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A boarding school for boys aged 12 to 18 years in Ireland Glenstal Abbey School is a small private school of 250 students, providing consistent high educational standards in a small class setting.

We offer a wide variety of extra-curricular activities, personal pastoral support and a strong sense of community.

Set in 500 acres of parkland in the heart of Munster, 40 minutes from Shannon Airport and 2 hours from Dublin Airport.

Every Day is an Open Day at Glenstal Abbey School, please do come and see for yourself‌ Glenstal Abbey School, Murroe, Co. Limerick, Ireland +353 61 621044 - admissions@glenstal.com - www.glenstal.com

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BUSINESS MODELS | FEATURE

THE BOTTOM LINE

Chepstow House, London is an Alpha Plus Group school

Parents don’t care whether schools are run as businesses or have charitable status – as long as they get results, finds Melanie Cable-Alexander as Prince George attending one of the Thomas’s group of schools in London unwittingly highlighted an issue being discussed by parents?

Sam Antrobus, executive chairman of The Wishford Group of Schools, certainly thinks it might have done. ‘I don’t know, but groups of schools and particularly those run as business ventures have become more prominent thereby fuelling a debate into how schools can run as an academic and pastoral enterprise as well as a business.’

Thomas’s is resolutely a family-run group with four prep schools in London (Battersea, Kensington, Fulham and Clapham), as well as one kindergarten, and sits in what Antrobus calls ‘the grey area’ of the subject just as his own schools are. His own family enterprise covers seven preparatory schools.

More clear-cut as business enterprises are the group schools led by organisations with an openly capitalist ethos at their core.

Sovereign Capital, one of the leading umbrellas behind some top UK

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independent schools, is an example. The company’s motto is ‘The UK Buy & Build Specialist’, which makes it sound like a real estate enterprise – great for investors but slightly off-putting for parents.

The education and training wing of its website is listed as part of its ‘Portfolio’ and celebrates its numerous ‘Investor of the Year’ titles even before the name of a school is mentioned.

Corporate speak like this can be intimidating when over 80 per cent of our independent schools hold charitable statuses and can inspire some worrying queries among parents already quizzical about how their hard-earned fees are being spent.

So let’s cut to the chase and ask the awkward questions which hover behind parents’ concerns. How can profit-motivated business ventures provide the same level of pupil care for a child as an individual school with charitable status? Does a child lose out being educated by a profitmotivated business model? What is the impact of a school being run as a business venture on our children’s education?

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Tonbridge School, Kent has been part of the Worshipful Company of Skinners for several centuries

has been part of the Worshipful Company of Skinners for several centuries. Other livery companies have their own schools too.

Then there are the Methodist Schools (MIST for short), which own seven independent schools and ten state.

But then, in 2004, Cognita entered the arena and now has a mighty 67 schools within its ‘family’ educating 30,000 pupils in the UK and abroad. Seemingly, overnight parents became ‘customers’.

Other groups rapidly followed including international ones like the mighty GEMS Education, which was founded as a family tutoring business in Dubai and now has over 250 schools in 13 countries. Former US President Bill Clinton has named GEMS Education a strategic partner of the Clinton Global Initiative.

The independent chairman of its board of directors is Sir Michael Peat, former private secretary to Prince Charles.

A relative newcomer that has thrust to the forefront of the horizon is Hassan Inc which has not just one but three education companies, each with their own niche groups of schools.

Hassan Inc is run, founded and owned by the vibrant and extremely hands-on former Army and City man Aatif Hassan who says ‘we’ve gone from a piece of paper to a £50 million turnover in 50 months’.

His latest project was to open Eaton Square Upper in September 2017 in a Grade 1-listed former French Ambassador’s house in Mayfair

that cost £5 million to refurbish. He fought hard to acquire the school and it is already over-subscribed, which provides a clue as to the benefit a school run with business aplomb can have for its pupils; money gained can be reinvested.

In Hassan’s view: ‘there is a machine behind the scenes that powers the schools and operates the back office. This allows our Heads to focus on what they are good at – education. Why would you not take the opportunity to get experts and the best in their field to do what they are good at?’

When I ask Hassan what happens to profits made by his enterprises, he responds robustly: ‘Our ambitions are very long term and as a result, we have been reinvesting all [he underlines] of our surpluses into capital-related and growth projects. This benefits our pupils very tangibly and perhaps at a pace which would be more challenging for a not-for-profit organisation.

We have no intention of changing this strategy – it’s working.’

His perspective is mirrored by Rosella Proscia, of the Alpha Plus Group. ‘If Wetherby School was a standalone school not owned

by Alpha Plus, there would probably be no Wetherby Preparatory School or Wetherby Senior School. This is because Alpha Plus has the ability to raise finance in order to create new schools.’ Parents therefore view the group positively.

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BUSINESS MODELS | FEATURE

From a head’s point of view, being part of an organisation provides considerable benefits: they cite ‘protection’, ‘support’, ‘a place to sift through and absorb new ideas’ and most importantly ‘receive help’ through an ‘access to a broader HR [human resources] area’, and ‘by getting updates on the latest legal regulations’.

Jill Walker, headmistress of St Nicholas Preparatory School, Kensington, used to be deputy head at Glendower, a standalone girl’s prep school in South Kensington, London, and is one of Cognita’s latest recruits and converts.

She’s bubbling over with enthusiasm having attended a four-day seminar for Cognita’s heads.

‘I’ve come away with some really good ideas.

In a standalone you can’t do that as other schools may be regarded as competitors.’

London, as always, is the hub of educational change and the centre for most umbrella-owned schools from which others fan out, despite Cognita’s first school being in Northamptonshire.

From a commercial point of view, viability of acquiring independent schools increases if you are located inside the M25.

There has been an accusation that some group-owned schools, stamp one individual print of how each school should operate as opposed to developing and adapting an individual school’s character and strengths.

‘It is easy for schools within groups to lose their individual identity,’ comments Ralph Lucas, editor of the popular parents bible The Good Schools Guide. However ‘this can be a good thing’. In some cases, such as Thomas’s, maintaining a distinctive brand is crucial.

Cognita, on the other hand, makes sure that ‘each of our schools are different’, says Simon Camby, global director of education and a former lead Ofsted inspector. ‘We don’t conform to a set model. I always describe our organisation as like a family in that they may include people with dark hair, light hair, one likes tea, the other coffee and so on. That’s the way we approach our schools.’

Instead ‘our framework is about academic issues, building a child’s character, and encouraging a global outlook, something which we can foster given our number of overseas schools. Those three methods help prepare children for their future.’

‘It is easy for schools within groups to lose their individual identity,’ comments Ralph Lucas, editor of the popular parents bible The Good Schools Guide. However ‘this can be a good thing.’ In some cases, such as Thomas’s, maintaining a distinctive brand is crucial

It’s not just London schools, Downsend in Surrey is a Cognita school

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Cognita has 67 schools worldwide, including the Northbridge House schools

It says much for the system that David Woodgate, chief executive of the Independent Schools Bursars Association is much in favour of the rise in the number of groups running schools, seeing it as a ‘win win’ situation with many positive advantages apparent in the bottom line.

‘Many independent schools are looking at their business models, and all the increasing costs being levied at schools.

We can’t keep passing on such financial burden to parents who are clearly sensitive to such costs anyway.’

Several events, he continues, ‘can make parents nervous; the loss of a head, a favourite teacher. These can make a big difference to the perception of a school. Being part of a group is just another change.’

But he believes that as parents come to understand better how the system works and trust in the continued excellent standards of these schools who offer value for money as transparently as their individually owned competitors, they will become more accepting of this new change. It does not, of course, mean that this new business model is right for every school.

‘We have a thousand schools in our group and one size doesn’t fit all,’ explains Woodgate. ‘Some suit standalone, others might be better as part of a team. Very often this depends on the size, ethos and location of a school.’

Ralph Lucas is also reassuring. ‘From a parents’ point of view, if a school has been a member of a group for a while, it is possible to get a feel of what the relationship is between school and group by asking questions when they visit schools. These can include:

“What does the group bring to the school? What influence does it have on setting policies, choosing the curriculum, enforcing discipline, selecting a new head?”’

Lucas would like to see more senior schools ‘acquire or merge with feeder prep schools and likewise standalone preps should take on nurseries. Franchising and the overseas markets are not available to all and therefore securing numbers at home is becoming ever more crucial.

‘There are other alternatives to growth such as niche markets in special needs, aesthetic and sporting pursuits but sustainable admissions remains key. It requires serious professional intent to assure delivery.

‘Bigger might not necessarily always mean better but in the case of education, the synergies available for pedagogical development, pupil welfare, cultural pursuits and the shared cost of compliance probably mean it is.’

Ultimately, both group and independent schools are attractive options for parents but the decision depends on the child, personal family beliefs and location. Louise Reina, a Wetherby Senior School parent and also a leading figure in a major FTSE 100 organisation, had absolutely no hesitation in joining a corporate-owned school when her son was due to move schools: ‘Wetherby Senior would not have been built were it not for Alpha Plus. Why then should I be concerned whether being group-owned is a force for good or not? It’s a successful venture.’ The only bottom line to consider is the right classroom seat for the child. n

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A MODERN APPROACH We spoke to Seth Bolderow, headmaster of Wetherby Senior, about the new school with traditional values

What were your first impressions of Wetherby Senior? I had just flown over from Hong Kong, where I served as deputy head of Harrow International School, Hong Kong. Bearing in mind there were two days remaining before the end of term at Wetherby Senior, behind every door we opened on my first tour of the School, staff and pupils were still working hard in every lesson and were deeply engaged with what they were doing. I recall walking into a physics lesson on time, aging and relativity: serious stuff. Even though the topic was not part of that year group’s syllabus, the boys were up for the challenge.

I was impressed by how engaged the boys and teaching staff were and how proud they were of the school too.

What is your vision for the school and do you have a goal for the end of the academic year? This academic year is an interesting one for us. Everything we have taught is about to be tested in our first set of public exams. We will see our pioneering year group get their GCSE results and all the signs are that they are going to do really well. We are also focusing on getting boys prepared for the transition to Sixth Form, starting to build leadership opportunities and giving them more responsibility as they get older.

More broadly, we are taking the traditions that come from the Wetherby ethos, all the qualities which made the pre-prep and

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prep school so successful, and shaping them into the unique and individual DNA of Wetherby Senior School.

My focus is to nurture the growth of our pupils from boys to young men. I believe that the traditions and values that come with a Wetherby education, combined with our progressive approach, can inspire boys to develop their individual capacities for personal and academic excellence well beyond their school years.

What makes Wetherby Senior special? First of all, our community.

Our boys are part of a community which fosters committed and spirited engagement, inquiry and collaboration in all fields of learning and society. We are also really lucky that our central London location affords our pupils all kinds of opportunities for enrichment and engagement. Some of the best universities in the world, UCL and Imperial to name but two, are just a stone’s throw away, and so are major businesses and cultural institutions.

Our size also makes us special. Now that we have secured additional space for the Senior School at Hannah House, in Manchester Street, our intention is that we will be big enough to offer various opportunities, but small enough that the boys know each other and the teachers know the boys. We can talk genuinely about being able to support, nurture and enrich the boys at this size.

What has contributed to the success of Wetherby Senior?

Probably many factors, but parents and visitors to the school invariably remark about thequality of the teaching staff. Prospective

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Boys are given a first-class education within a school that has a community-feel.

parents often comment on how genuinely passionate the teachers are about their subjects. Lessons are delivered in a way that engages boys. I’m in the process of observing all the teaching staff and I’m really excited by what I’m seeing in the lessons.

Another success factor is our intake model.

We provide a smooth transition for pupils of Wetherby Prep who join us at 13 but also an exciting new beginning for boys who join usat 11+,13+ and, in the future, 16+.

Which book would you ask every student to read? As a classicist, I would love them all to read Homer’s Iliad. It is the beginning of European literature, the root of so much in our culture and, more importantly, it’s a wonderful story.

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Sevenoaks School, Kent has championed the IB for 20 years

GOING FOR GOLD As the International Baccalaureate celebrates its 50th birthday, John Claughton says its time appreciate its true value

his year, the International Baccalaureate celebrates its fiftieth birthday. The wise men present at its birth were innovative educators, several of them British, who set about creating an education with some fundamental features: it should be rigorous and valued globally; it should have a philosophy not just a syllabus; it should teach skills and not only content; it should encourage thought not only memory and it should pursue breadth rather than the specialisation that has bedevilled British education for a century.

The infant was small: in 1968 seven schools offered the Diploma Programme to their sixth form.

It’s not small any more. In 2018, 50 years on, 1.5 million students from 4,775 schools in 153 countries study the IB which now comes in four forms, the Primary Years programme (PYP) the Middle Years Programme (MYP), the Diploma Programme (DP) and, the most recent creation of 2012, the Career-related Programme (CP).

It has grown by remaining true to its principles.

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For this reason, the IB global growth graph is simple to draw: it goes steeply upwards in a straight line. The story of IB in the UK is not quite so linear. Indeed, in the last decade, while the number of students studying the IB in this country has grown marginally, the number of schools offering IB has declined steeply. The biggest fall has been in the state sector. Despite the success of Hockerill and Dartford and Tonbridge Grammar Schools, many other state schools and sixth-form colleges have not been able to support the costs of offering the IB and A-levels. There have been high-profile casualties in the independent sector too, including Manchester Grammar School, Marlborough College and The Grammar School at Leeds. Schools offering both IB and A-levels haven’t always found it so easy to attract students to the greater challenge of IB’s six subjects when the alternative is the simplicity of three A-levels.

However, for an increasing number of schools, IB is thriving and growing. Sevenoaks School, Kent, for example, has offered the IB for 40 years. It has been a 100 per cent IB school for

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INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE | UPFRONT

20 years and is this year’s Sunday Times Independent School of the Year. ‘We are having record numbers of applications,’ says Alison Roberts, the head of marketing, ‘and applicants are coming from around the world specifically to study IB.’ St Edward’s Oxford offers both IB and A-levels but it has seen rapid growth, from 11 students taking IB in 2011 to 76 now in year 13. Similar growth is to be found elsewhere: Wellington College has gone from 35 pupils in 2010 to 96 in 2017 and Bradfield College from 16 five years ago to 77 today. North London Collegiate School’s numbers have increased sixfold in two years and KCS Wimbledon, once a 100 per cent IB school, has seen numbers grow by a third in the last two years.

Headington, Worth, Oakham, Bromsgrove and Bryanston all have their largest IB cohorts ever.

Southbank International School is very different from those above, offering not only the Diploma but also the PY P and MY P, but the song is the same: Amal Hirani, the deputy principal, says ‘We have strong results from students with a wide range of abilities and, due to increased demand, we are in the process of acquiring a new site to allow our numbers to grow.’

There are several reasons for success, say schools. The first is the growing realisation that IB really is offering the knowledge, skills and human qualities necessary for success at university and beyond. ‘The IB is being increasingly recognised as an excellent preparation for life after school with its emphasis on the development of personal attributes,’ says Naomi Williams at Worth.

The second is the increased value that

universities, at home and abroad, are now giving to IB and its products. Mark Allen at KCS Wimbledon, Richard Atherton at Wellington and Jacqueline Paris at The Stephen Perse Foundation see this as a key factor in attracting students to IB. There is also a growing realisation that those who benefit most in university offers aren’t the high-fliers, but the middle-ground candidates.

The IB co-ordinator at St Edward’s and Oakham agree that the IB diploma is not just suitable for the academic elite, but represents an excellent education for learners across the ability spectrum.

The third is the unease associated with the idea of one terminal examination after studying for the usual three A-levels. ‘Everyone learns differently and you will never eradicate exam nerves completely. It comes with the territory.

However, the main difference is that IB students are better prepared and are not over tested throughout the four IB programmes,’ says Leanne Larkin, assistant high school principal at ACS Egham. The fourth factor applies to only a few schools, such as Ryde and Warminster, offering the new Career-related Programme which combines the academic with the vocational and is ideal for a growing number of students.

However, it might be best to end not with an IB voice, but with the words of the President of the Royal Society, Professor Sir Venki Ramakrishnan: ‘The UK risks falling behind its global competitors as a result of maintaining a narrow, outdated model of post-16 education.

Our system which encourages early specialisation is no longer fit for purpose in an increasingly interdisciplinary world.’ Perhaps, after 50 years, the time for IB in the UK is finally here. n

Independent schools offering the IB Diploma Ardingly College Bedford Girls’ School Bedford School Box Hill School Bradfield College Brentwood School Bromsgrove School Bryanston School Buckswood School Charterhouse Cheltenham Ladies’ College Christ’s Hospital Cobham Hall Ellesmere College Felsted School Fettes College George Watson’s College Gresham’s School Haileybury Headington School, Oxford Kent College Canterbury King Edward’s School Witley King Edward’s School, Birmingham King William’s College, Isle of Man King’s College School Wimbledon Leighton Park School Malvern College North London Collegiate School Oakham School Redmaids’ High School Rossall School Rydal Penrhos Ryde School with Upper Chine Scarborough College Sevenoaks School Sherborne Girls School Sidcot School St Edward’s School, Oxford St Leonards School, St Andrews Stonyhurst College Taunton School The Abbey School, Reading Godolphin and Latymer School Portsmouth Grammar School The Royal High School, Bath GDST The Stephen Perse Foundation Warminster School Wellington College Westminster Academy Whitgift School Windermere School Worth School

International schools

ACS Egham is the only UK school to ofer all four IB programmes

ACS Cobham ACS Egham ACS Hillingdon CATS Canterbury Deutsche Schule, London Dwight School, London EF International Academy, Oxford EF International Academy, Torquay Halcyon London International International Community School, London International School of London International School of London in Surrey King Fahad Academy Marymount International School Southbank International School St Clare’s Oxford The American School in England (TASIS) International School of Aberdeen UWC Atlantic College

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Joe Choong, a Whitgift School, Croydon pupil

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A THOROUGHLY

MODERN SPORT Pentathlon, and its family of linked multi-sports, is giving traditional team sports a run for their money in independent schools, says Sally Jones

s British doctor Stephanie Cook strode home, blonde ponytail flying, overtaking seven rivals to snatch gold in the inaugural women’s Modern Pentathlon at the Sydney Olympics in 2000, with teammate Kate Allenby taking bronze, it captivated a worldwide audience. Here, for the first time, were women excelling at this rugged multi-sport incorporating the five military-style disciplines of running, riding shooting, swimming and fencing; long considered the preserve of the ultimate (male) all-rounders.

The sport garnered unrivalled publicity. GB men’s sides had already taken Olympic medals: gold in 1976 and bronze at Seoul in 1988, while the women have now won five medals, most recently individual silvers for Heather Fell at Beijing in 2008 and Samantha Murray at London in 2012. During the sport’s early days, most of its stars came from army backgrounds. This reflected the founder of the modern-day Olympics, Baron Pierre de Coubertin’s vision of a contest simulating the experience of a 19th-century cavalry soldier behind enemy lines: riding an unfamiliar horse, fighting foes with pistol and sword, then swimming and running to return to his own troops.

Now, however, modern pentathlon, and its family of linked multi-sports, is becoming increasingly dynamic and professional. In 2009 the combined laser-run (competitors shooting down five targets with a laser pistol, followed by a run, a sequence completed four times. The first competitor home is the winner) replaced the old shooting and running sections to provide a thrilling finale. The exciting and accessible laser-run is becoming a popular event in its own right, with new recruits then trying other disciplines, such as modern

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biathlon (swim and run) and modern pentathlon (swim, fence, ride and laser-run.)

Independent schools are proving a major launch pad for future Olympians, with both their own pupils and others using their fine facilities and coaches. Although multi-sports seem more individualistic than traditional team games like hockey and rugby, there is a strong team element.

Most pentathlon competitions involve national, club or school teams, as well as individual events and relays. Rossall School, Lancashire, where Steven Mason, who has competed internationally, heads the Pentathlon Academy and Community Club, launched in 2015, already boasts three national age-group titles, including the Under-17 team championship in modern triathlon (swimming and laser-run.)

‘We’re a good all-round sporting school,’ says Mason. ‘Kids come here on swimming scholarships or as fine rugby players, then some take up biathlon or triathlon which boosts their performance in other sports. We now get curriculum time to do laser-run shooting sessions in PE lessons and often the less athletic kids discover a real talent for it and develop their running to take part in laser-runs.’

‘Schools like mine give ambitious pentathletes the technique, discipline and time management skills that could mean an Olympic medal’

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Kate Allenby and Stephanie Cook

‘Modern pentathlon isn’t for everyone,’ added Rossall’s director of sport Jack Cropper, ‘but the different disciplines help us develop well-rounded athletes who can turn their hand to all the major sports as they have so many applications and improve sporting performance across the board. We’ve got several internationals in school at the moment and at least one future superstar.’

Sporting powerhouse, Millfield School, Somerset, has produced stars including GB bronze medallist Dominic Mahony and Ireland’s Arthur Lanigan O’Keefe, European pentathlon champion in 2015.

Mhairi Spence, world modern pentathlon champion in 2012, leads the Pentathlon Club at Ashford School, Kent where she and youth internationals James and Tom Wilton are proving inspirational role models for scores of youngsters, from the school and surrounding area. Internationals Zoe Davison (a former Wycliffe College, Gloucestershire pupil) and Old Oundelian Jess Varley, who now trains at Pentathlon GB’s National Training Centre in Bath, have also come through the independent school system.

Other schools hosting major modern pentathlon academies include Whitgift in Croydon, Wellington College in Berkshire and Plymouth College, where highly rated British youth internationals Georgina Mitchell and Annabel Denton train alongside top young

pentathletes from Europe, Africa and the Caribbean. With growing numbers of elite youngsters coming through, the sport’s national governing body Pentathlon GB aims to create 20 academies by 2020.

Leweston School, Dorset, which is going co-ed in September 2018 and is renowned for its strong riding team, also hosts an academy and Community Pentathlon Club.

‘We have around 40 of our prep and senior school kids on the programme from eight-years-old upwards,’ explained head of pentathlon Mick Flaherty, ‘and scores of other children.’

Ten Leweston girls and 20 club members under 19 already compete in full pentathlons, including the riding, probably the hardest discipline to teach. Luckily some pupils come through Pony Club tetrathlons and have their own ponies, which encourages our non-Pony Clubbers to ride well. For the youngest, the riding section consists of nine low show jumps and courses become longer and more demanding in higher-level competitions.

‘Doing full pentathlon takes dedication and hard work. Our performance pentathletes get a weekly programme of at least two disciplines each day, including early morning swimming and fencing but if they’re tired or overwhelmed with homework, it’s fine for them to miss the odd session: we monitor them pretty well.’

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Junior pentathlon competitor Sherborne Boys’ School pupil, George Case

The club includes junior international George Case, 16, who has won national Under-17 titles in events including modern tetrathlon and laser-run, plus the European triathle (shoot, swim and run).

Case, British Under-19 number two, attends Sherborne School where he does his cross-country training. He came into pentathlon via Pony Club tetrathlon, then trained at Leweston before being selected for the World Class Talent Programme. His life is now a whirlwind of trips to international competitions and specialist training in the different disciplines, with his parents acting as chauffeurs and providing the support squad.

‘Sherborne Boys’ School has always supported and encouraged George over the years,’ says his father Nick. ‘They’ve been really flexible with his school work, giving him more time when necessary to catch up when he’s missed homework or lessons.’

Britain’s top male pentathlete Joe Choong, 22, trains full-time at the National Centre in Bath where he also studies Maths. He discovered the sport at Whitgift School, aged 14, through the academy founded two years earlier by Olympian Kate Allenby. Allenby now coaches at Prior Park School, Bath and its prep school, Paragon.

Choong exceeded expectations with a sensational tenth place in Rio and sixth at the 2017 World Championships in an

endurance sport where many competitors don’t peak until their late 20s. He won an academic, sporting and musical scholarship to Whitgift, already a nationally ranked freestyle swimmer and gifted rugby player. His outstanding biathlon (run and swim) times particularly impressed Whitgift’s head of pentathlon, Charlie Unwin, as good swimmers rarely excel as runners because of the different muscles required. Once on the pentathlon squad, Choong quickly won numerous national junior titles, thanks partly to his fencing coach, former Czech international Michal Janca.

‘Michal teaches tactics and the mental side brilliantly, so I can predict how opponents will react,’ said Choong. ‘He and all the top coaches radiate excitement and enthusiasm and expect you to try 100 per cent in sessions and have fun too.

‘Whitgift’s given me a tremendous grounding in pentathlon, probably the most demanding sport of all. The hours and dedication required are huge when you’re juggling a tough academic schedule too. Schools like mine, though, give ambitious pentathletes the technique, discipline and time management skills that could mean an Olympic medal. These skills are equally crucial for pupils, who are simply training for their first-ever laser-run. Whatever level you’re at, they’re a gift for life.’ n

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SCHOOL HOUSE PARTNERSHIP

Eaton House schools offer a seamless transition from pre-prep to prep

MAXIMISING YOUR CHILD’S POTENTIAL To maximise your child’s potential, they need a managed plan from Pre-Prep to Prep School, says Eaton House Belgravia Headmaster, Huw May

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t Eaton House Belgravia Pre-Prep and Prep Schools, we are focused on maximising your child’s potential if he joins us. Part of that process will be the critical decision of what Prep school to apply for as a first choice and the whole staff, myself included, is absorbed in that decision for every single boy because it is critical to pupils’ senior school educational path.

Most people know Eaton House Belgravia as traditional pre-prep school dating back to September 1898 and located on a fantastic site in two mansion houses in Eaton Gate.

We achieve among the top pre-prep results in London regularly due to a fantastic effort from our dedicated staff and first rate pastoral care. In 2017, for example, 6 boys were offered places to Westminster Under, 6 to St Paul’s, 8 to Westminster Cathedral Choir, 4 to King’s College Junior School, 3 to Dulwich College and many others. We are confident that we will build on this success this year.

In the light of this, we know that there will always be a substantial cohort of boys who choose to leave us at 7+ or 8+. The aim now is to prepare these boys even rigorously to help them with personalised learning plans in the run-up to their exams. This is why we

Headmaster, Huw May

have chosen that the staff should evaluate boys weekly in all areas, academic and social, giving parental feedback every two weeks.

However, now there is also another choice available to parents of Eaton House Belgravia Pre-Prep School and other parents of children who are looking for an excellent London Prep education. They can, if they wish, send their boys on to our new Eaton House Belgravia Prep School in South Kensington. There are many benefits to this for the right child. Boys who choose this route will receive committed attention in small classes from the new staff, many of whom trained at our renowned sister school, Eaton House the Manor.

We are truly aspirational for every child to get to their top choice of day or boarding school at 13. Boys traditionally accelerate faster in single sex schools and we aim to ensure that every boy who enters Eaton House Belgravia Prep gets my personal attention.

We are academically aspirational for every single child. To complement their academic life, boys will enjoy a packed timetable of sport, art, DT and extra-curricular pursuits and we are working with the Royal College of Music to set the bar high early with a new children’s opera.

We are also working with the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum and the V&A. We are looking for boys who want to try everything, be aware of the world around them, have an opinion, listen to others, adapt, be confident, persevere, learn from their good mistakes, be responsible, make good choices, be kind, considerate and look after each other.

Results will naturally follow, as they have at Eaton House The Manor where boys routinely go on to Eton, King’s College, Westminster, Tonbridge, St Paul’s School, Dulwich College, Harrow, Marlborough and many more.

There is something to be said for an education which allows some boys to mature to their full academic potential at 13 and put the increasing stress of the 8+ examination on the back burner for a few more years of academic exploration and freedom. It’s also liberating for parents to know that the ‘education question’ can be solved in an academic environment from 4-13 on two sites. It does not suit all boys, but it is an option and options are all-important factor when maximising your A pupil enjoying a lesson at child’s educational Eaton House Belgravia Prep potential.

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Independent schools are leading the way in 21st-century music, finds Charlotte Fairbairn

here was a time when the provision for music in school was all Bach and not much byte.

When the main alphabetical sequences to trip off the tongue were less Jay Z, more EGBDF, when, if you were lucky, you were allowed to hum along to a little Bernstein. To play a musical instrument well was to belong to another tribe; the members were usually brainy, often sensitive, rarely sporty and wore specs. They were definitely not on-trend. Today almost the reverse is true. Music rocks. From music technology studies at Uppingham School to Youtubing at Hurtwood House, the message is that the music scene at independent schools has moved on. The fun, the funky, the rock and the soul are very much part of the daily school diet across the private schools’ sector.

Statistics report that the government over the past few years has come to spend less than ever on music provision in state schools. This bucks common sense. It is commonly

PHOTO CREDITS: MARK DEAN PHOTOGRAPHY

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ABOVE: Hurtwood House has a £100,000 budget for the annual school musical TOP RIGHT: Rock bands flourish at Bryanston

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BELOW: Talent spotters attend the Bedales rock concert

known that exposure to music from an early age is invaluable for many reasons. Professor Susan Hallam, an educationalist renowned for her research into the power of music, wrote in a 2015 report, commissioned by the Music Education Council, that social, personal and intellectual development are all enhanced by access to ‘quality music-making opportunities’. More broadly, since we live in an age of depression, particularly among teenagers, music and musicmaking can bring vital balm to the soul. As the late neuro-psychologist Oliver Sacks (himself a depression sufferer) once said: ‘Music can lift us out of depression or move us to tears; it is a remedy, a tonic, orange juice for the ear.’

Radley College in Oxfordshire is one of the many independent schools to recognise the importance of remaining on-trend music-wise, along with the intrinsic value of music itself.

Yes, you can join the choir for a Bach cantata, or play the fiddle in a Mozart symphony. But you can also sign up for a masterclass with, say, Zayn Mohammed, one of the most brilliant jazz/classical/pop guitarists of the moment.

Do not be surprised if your son comes home from school talking about making a podcast, referring to sequencing software and playing DJ sets on his iPhone. Sam Gladstone, head of music, is nothing but catholic in his musical beliefs. ‘All boys at Radley are exposed to music in some form as part of their regular week. The benefits are huge and proven: participation in music enables the boys to rise to high expectations and challenge. And at Radley, all types of music are valued.’ The recent appointment of a graduate

Musician in Residence, Lizzie Lewis, whose role is to show the boys how the pop industry works, underlines how seriously the school takes rock provision. It’s not just brass, it’s Mac. For Neil Hornsby, now head of contemporary music at Bedales, rock has progressed considerably since he joined the Hampshire school in 2004. ‘Back then, a rock concert at school was often just a bunch of sweaty kids playing loud music. Today our rock show is as professional as possible. The programme offers jazz, folk, country, whatever the students are into. For three nights, we sell out – in fact, the way I get pestered for tickets, it might be a concert by The Who.’ Bedales should know – it was thanks to Pete Townshend’s early encouragement (his sound technician Bob Pridden worked on the Bedales Rock Show for several years) that the show has reached its current cult status. Hornsby is justly proud of the Rock Show legacy. ‘Two or three times a year,’ he says, ‘we are approached by artist management companies and record labels. Our reputation has grown and they come to talent spot.’

Bryanston is another school where, for the past 15 years, rock bands have flourished. Head of percussion, and drum-kit performer, Richard Baker, has led the band charge and concerts are staged at the school throughout the year. ‘From rock to indie rock, from classic rock to soul,’ says Richard, ‘we jump on whatever is popular at the time. We also stage a ‘Battle of the Bands’ where all the music is original, written by the students.’

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‘In 2017, many of the stars of the Glastonbury festival line-up were privately educated; Alison Goldfrapp, Jamie Cullum, Laura Marling and Grace Chatto, to name a few’ And while much of this provision is extra, or indeed co-curricular, this does not mean there are no possible career consequences. Uppingham School’s sixth form band, Street Asylum, was a winner of the school’s Seed Festival. The prize was to support a professional band, Scouting for Girls at the Leicester 02 arena; consequently, a single Tell Me Your Name was released in November 2017. Freddie Sheed, a graduate of the Bedales Rock Show, is now a session drummer for bands such as Wolf Alice and Take That. Yolanda Gumpo featured regularly in Seafordstock – the annual popfest at Seaford College in West Sussex. Today she is based in Brighton, making her first professional steps as a singer.

(Seaford is also the alma mater of the indie star Tom Odell.)

Of course, if you know that your child is serious about a career in the pop industry and you would rather calculate the risk, then why not consider a vocational school? Tring Park in Hertfordshire accepts pupils from the age of eight and is a Performing Arts School. Ella Henderson (who did not win the X-factor but arguably should have) is an old girl and most definitely a superstar.

Harmesh Gharu, head of music at Tring Park, is particularly excited about their new Commercial Music course. ‘The course embraces performance practice, song-writing and creative musicianship. And most of the course tutors are industry pros, gigging musicians.’ They provide enticing opportunities to work with the likes of Frank Turner and Laura Mvula. Like Bryanston and Cranleigh School, among others, Tring Park offers the Rockschool syllabus, a graded music exam scheme that covers all aspects of the rock industry including ukelele, music production and electric guitar.

Hurtwood House, in Surrey, is a sixth-form college whose watchword is creativity. A £100,000 budget for the annual school

FAMOUS ALUMNI Mumford & Sons: King’s College, Wimbledon & St Paul’s, London Lily Allen, Jamie Campbell-Bower: Bedales Chris Martin (Coldplay): Sherborne School, Dorset Florence Welch (Florence and the Machine): Alleyn’s, Dulwich Laura Marling: Leighton Park, Reading Will Young: Wellington College Grace Chatto (Clean Bandit): Westminster School, London Harry Judd (McFly): Uppingham School, Rutland

Seafordstock is Seaford College’s take on a school concert

Sophie Ellis Bextor: Godolphin & Latymer, London

Tring Park now offer a Commercial Music course

musical and a forthcoming scheme to record 21 pop videos in 21 days speak volumes for the progressiveness of the Hurtwood programme. Ted Jackson is son of the founder and a passionate advocate of the school: ‘It was when my father built a theatre in 1988 that Hurtwood really took off. Students here are expected to follow a full A-level academic programme but whenever and in whichever way they wish to be creative, we are there to encourage them. As you can imagine, a Psychology lesson or an English essay looks much more enticing when the opportunity to perform in our Gig of Glory beckons.’

In 2016, the UK music industry made an estimated contribution of £4.4billion to the UK economy. In 2017, many of the stars of the Glastonbury Festival line-up were privately educated, Alison Goldfrapp, Jamie Cullum, Laura Marling and Grace Chatto, to name a few. There are no two ways about it – rock rocks. And today you can start rocking at school. n

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The school will celebrate its centenary in 2019

DIGITAL DETOX Apart from technology used for educational purposes, pupils at Brambletye Prep School in Sussex are screen-free, instead, spending their free time playing outside

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rambletye, which will be 100 years old in 2019, is situated in a Victorian hunting lodge with glorious views overlooking the Ashdown forest, just 30 miles from London. At a glance it appears to be a traditional country prep school.

But visitors soon realise that this school hasn’t stood still. Oak panelled rooms are kitted out with funky furniture, the former bedrooms of the aristocracy have been converted into modern and homely dorms and there’s an energetic team of staff dedicated to offering the best, contemporary education to children.

It is the perfect hybrid of a traditional and modern school culture.

Teachers embrace technology, making use of the wealth of apps and resources online. Children start learning to touch type in Year 2 and banks of iPads are used in all subjects. Children are educated in e-safety and advised how to manage their identity and behaviour in the digital world. Boarders use Skype and email to contact their family and, last year, the children participated in the Brambletye Space Programme, an ongoing project to launch a receiver into space.

Pupils are active and fulfilled

Luddites they are not.

However Brambletye has decided to create a unique environment for their pupils. Other than for education and contacting home, the children are screenfree. There are no technological temptations which so irk and concern parents. There are no personal smart phones or tablets in school.

The older children are liberated from social media, released from the pressure to post enviable pictures in return for peer group affirmations. Nor are they held captive by compelling games, designed to keep children hooked, making it difficult for parents to separate their offspring from their consoles. At Brambletye, gaming is done outside on the football pitches, cricket squares and netball courts; connecting is in person using eye contact with staff and friends; while there’s no surfing, they do sail on the nearby reservoir and networking results in lifelong friendships and plethora of shared memories. Time is tight in the school day. Lessons are intertwined with sport, music, drama and activities ranging from pig farming to coding, cheerleading or photography club. Precious spare time is used productively. Children are active and fulfilled, too busy developing qualities of character which will set them in good stead for their adult lives to miss their devices. And the parents breathe audible sighs of relief in the knowledge that their children are free from cyber shackles and are loving it.

Up in the dorms, children chat, read, play board games and watch the news.

After lights out, there are no blue lights or enticing pings to lure them away from their shut-eye; no messages being sent as the moon reaches its zenith.

In a world where all too often childhood is cut short, Brambletye pupils can continue being children for longer, in an inspiring place which was Children learn to designed for children touch-type from Year 2 all those years ago.

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GENDER DYSPHORIA Sally Jones finds out how independent schools are responding to a sensitive challenge

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ntil around five years ago, gender dysphoria, where a person experiences a mismatch between their biological sex and gender identity, was a littleknown condition which few schools had ever encountered. Because of the stigma surrounding it, if mentioned at all, it was discussed in hushed tones and the handful of teenagers who opted to undergo gender reassignment would often move schools during the process, to avoid bullying.

Since 2013 however, the NHS’s only facility for children experiencing gender dysphoria, GIDS, the Gender Identity Development Service, based in North London and Leeds has seen a six-fold increase in the number of youngsters aged 3 to 18 being referred to them from 314 in 2012/13 to over 2000 last year.

Experts are split on what has triggered this huge spike, some attributing it to the promotion of conversation on transgender issues in schools that encourages children to question their identity.

Others claim that the growing openness and acceptance of the topic has allowed children with ‘real’ gender problems to explore their options in a non-judgmental atmosphere. Some mental health professionals even believe that gender dysphoria may be symptomatic of conditions like schizophrenia rather than because a child has

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actually been ‘born into the wrong body.’

Whatever the cause, however, it has become an increasingly hot topic, with boarding and single sex schools facing particular challenges as they try to support pupils through what can be a traumatic process. A 2014 survey by Pace, the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender mental health charity, found that 48 per cent of transgender youths had attempted suicide, while 59 per cent of them had self-harmed.

Co-ed Brighton College, East Sussex has always been at the forefront of the debate, partly because of its liberal atmosphere and the town’s extensive LGBGT community. In 2016 following discussions with a transgender pupil, the college scrapped the rigid demarcation between ‘boys’ and ‘girls’ uniforms, with positive results.

‘Our approach to transgender pupils is simply an extension of the pastoral care we provide for all the children at Brighton,’ explained headmaster Richard Cairns. ‘One girl, supported by loving, thoughtful parents, told us that she identified as male outside school and found having to wear a traditional girls’ uniform at school profoundly upsetting. I wanted a solution that preserved our traditions whilst supporting that small number of children whose happiness required flexibility on our part.

So I abolished the notion of boys’ uniform

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Brighton College abolished the notion of girls’ and boys’ uniform

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which has also earmarked living accommodation suitable for children with gender dysphoria ‘So far, we’ve not had any transgender pupils,’ said senior deputy head Sarah Angus, ‘but we’ve given specialist training to all our staff involved in pastoral care.

Our policies and documentation refer to gender identity so our pupils understand that Malvern recognises this could be an issue. With such long delays in accessing specialist mental health support from outside, however, my main worry is the difficulty in getting timely help through the overstretched CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services.)

Within the school itself though, we’re determined to have the whole framework in place so any transgender pupils can behave in the way they feel most comfortable.’

Despite growing awareness of the issue, not all schools have had an easy ride. Several whom Schools are putting policies in place to accomodate pupils that are I approached when researching transitioning or have transitioned this article begged not to be named.

Three reported angry parents complaining that they had not been made aware of transgender children in their school, despite the obvious confidentiality issues involved in publicising such sensitive information.

When confronted with this question herself, Caroline Jordan, headmistress of Headington School, Oxford outlined the disturbing statistics of suicide attempts and self-harming, explaining, ‘With more than 1,000 girls in our care, our pastoral team at Headington deal with a wide range of issues every week which nobody would expect us to make public. Adolescence is a difficult time for us all, but for those young people growing up with dysphoria it can be unimaginably hard. We should be helping them all find the path in life that is right for them, not compartmentalising them.’

The Girls’ School Association believes children themselves are often far more tolerant of their classmates’ gender issues than their elders. ‘The common challenge for girls’ schools’ said GSA President Gwen Byrom, ‘is how they balance the fact that they teach predominantly girls – and are proud to do so - with the fact that they must, under the Equality Act respect the needs of those pupils who identify as boys or who may privately be experiencing gender confusion. Most of the difficulties are pragmatic, such as making sure you have appropriate toilet and changing provision.

In my experience, young people themselves are remarkably relaxed and accepting of one another.’ n

and girls’ uniform, rebadging them as ‘trouser’ uniform and ‘skirt’ uniform. Each teenager, with parental permission, may choose one or the other. Thus far, four pupils have changed to a trouser uniform and two to a skirt uniform. All are so much happier and all have found renewed success, indeed, one has just left us to go to Cambridge.’

St Paul’s Girls’ School, London also has a gender-neutral dress code and allows pupils to use the name of their choice, without reference to gender, as does another London school, James Allen’s Girls’, where trousers have been a uniform option for 20 years.

Despite widespread ignorance of the law, the 2010 Equality Act bans discrimination on grounds of gender. Pupils at single-sex schools are allowed to remain there even after undergoing gender reassignment without the school losing its single-sex status, although it can select on gender when pupils are admitted initially.

With so much publicity surrounding the issue, most independent schools now have policies in place to support transgender pupils.

Loughborough High School has introduced gender-neutral toilets and changing facilities, as has Malvern College, Worcestershire

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With so much publicity surrounding the issue, most independent schools now have policies in place to support transgender pupils

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FOCUS

HAVE WE LOST THE PLOT? Are we failing our children? Is anxiety and stress killing their childhood? Are they too scared of failing to win?

How do we compare to other countries?

Educationalists, writers and academics give their verdict on the British education system.

Pupils from schools such as Harrow, London are 94 times more likely to reach the top elite positions in society

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EDUCATION IN FOCUS | FEATURE

THE JOURNALIST

HARD PUSHED

As the debate over the wisdom of pushing children escalates, Victoria Lambert compares the English education system to others ore than half a million children attend British independent schools – more than at any time since records began in 1974 – according to the Independent School Council (ISC). Just over five per cent are from overseas, with their parents attracted to the traditional ethos of high academic achievement combined with excellence in sport, music, drama and other activities.

The best British independent schools have become so competitive – especially in cities such as London and Manchester – that entrance exams at 11 and 13 have been augmented by pre-tests at age nine or ten, as well as psychometric assessments. The City of London School is so oversubscribed that it has ten applicants per place in Year 6. Benenden, Kent has a four-year waiting list. Westminster School, London asks parents to apply when their child is in Year 3 to sit the pre-test in Year 6.

There are over 4,000 tutoring firms drilling young children for these tests. In 2013, the online education resource EdPlace estimated that British parents spend up to £6 billion a year on private lessons.

The rewards are high, however. The ISC says independent schools enter a disproportionate number of pupils for most

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Charterhouse, Surrey

‘There is a global trend for accountability in schools with success or failure determined by standardised tests and external evaluations’ Professor Jari Lavonen, Helsinki

The City of London School has ten applicants per place in Year 6

STEM subjects and all modern foreign languages who perform comparatively better in these exams than state school pupils.

At chemistry A-level 54 per cent of independent schools’ entries were awarded A* or A compared to 30 per cent of state entries.

Research carried out by ISC analysing the value added by independent schools to ‘soft skills’ has shown that pupils may be more open to learning, more able to recover from setbacks, and more conscientious. And pupils from nine public schools – Charterhouse in Surrey, Eton in Berkshire, Harrow in London, Merchant Taylor’s in Hertfordshire, Rugby in Warwickshire, Shrewsbury in Shropshire, St Paul’s in London and Winchester in Hampshire – are 94 times more likely to reach the top elite positions in society than those from other schools, according to a 2017 study by the London School of Economics.

But in our drive to turn out perfect children with impeccable outcomes, are we forgetting about their moral character? Research from the University of Birmingham and the Jubilee Centre in 2015 concluded that 80 per cent of teachers found that the British assessment system ‘hinders the development of the whole child’. Most of the teachers it surveyed claimed that exams have become so pervasive in schools that they have crowded out other educational benefits.

The British way is not the norm. In Australia and South Africa, children start school and learn to read at six or seven. ‘The USA is more personality driven,’ says Nathaniel McCullagh, founder and managing director of education consultancy Simply Learning Tuition: ‘Grades are important, but they look at the student holistically. Greater emphasis is placed on non-academics, personal character and aspirations.’

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‘Parents compare schools, regardless of where they live. However, to compare only numbers or pass rates to top universities reduces schools to “academic factories”. Schools like Schloss Salem aim for a holistic education and offer both a demanding academic programme, but also develop pupils’ characters by challenging them in many ways.’

German boarding schools such as Salem are not easy-going, he warns, but are consciously more liberal than UK independent schools. ‘Looking back at Germany’s difficult history, Salem aims at educating critical democrats who take responsibility without being asked. We challenge our pupils by confronting them with freedoms that suit their age.’

This is quite different to the expectations placed on a British child, where there is pressure on all sides to be perfect, says Mark Turnbull, headmaster of Giggleswick School, Yorkshire. ‘We are quick to blame social media but less Benenden, Kent has willing to acknowledge how our education a four-year waiting list system is placing excessive pressure upon teenagers. I would ask, are we really creating the mental health epidemic? Are ‘Children shouldn’t be over-tutored for exams they we teaching to instill a love of learning or, shouldn’t be sitting to get into schools which won’t suit too often, are we forced to coach in order them. It can lead to exam panic and a lack of self-esteem’ to meet our own performance targets?’

Rupert Syme, Lionheart Education, a London tutoring school Colin Baty, Head of Bedales Prep School, Dunhurst in Hampshire is concerned about resulting anxiety.

‘The pressures experienced by many 11-plus and CE pupils is a worry, with concerns expressed about to spend time learning to relate to each other, develop dexterity and anxiety felt by children as young as six. creativity through play, art and basic writing. They learn how to build ‘I am also concerned that the national curriculum and the relationships, and develop social, leadership and interpersonal skills.’ associated qualification regime is increasingly prescriptive, dull, Ben Evans, headmaster of Edge Grove School, Hertfordshire, narrow and inadequate for any education that seeks to help young agrees: ‘Most other countries manage the education process better people question, challenge and make mistakes as they become than us. In Scandinavian countries, the youngsters catch up with enthusiastic and independent learners. Young people are sponges for UK children but in the meantime, have enjoyed greater freedoms. learning, and we have a responsibility to better serve that appetite.’

The quality of education provided by our prep and senior schools He adds: ‘A 2015 Demos publication, Mind Over Matter, found is world class and getting better all of the time, but it is the transition that pupils in the UK lose confidence and are less happy as they move phases that need to be managed more carefully and this is where through school, with a third of final year students believing their school other countries unfortunately have the upper hand.’ is focused only on preparing them to succeed in exams, rather than Professor Jari Lavonen explains how its done. ‘There is a global in life. The Demos work finds a relationship between stress in young trend for accountability in schools with success or failure determined people and orthodoxy of exam assessment: and to seek to address the by standardised tests and external evaluations,’ says the head of the former without looking at the part played by the latter is shortsighted.’ department of education at the University of Helsinki. ‘In Finnish Peter Howe, principal of UWC Atlantic College, Wales adds: primary and lower secondary schools another direction has been ‘Students need to feel valued as people not just by their grades. Too chosen: trust based on the professionalism of teachers. An important much of students’ self-esteem is connected to their grades and the pre-condition for trust is the high quality of teacher education and a “perfect” CV, which results in them becoming fearful and fragile.’ broadly supported overall strategy.’ Moreover, adds Professor Lavonen, Many teachers increasingly express their concerns that a rise in ‘because there is no national-level heavy testing, teachers are not tutoring is part of the problem, putting stress on younger children who tempted to concentrate on easily measurable skills.’ maybe attaining places at schools with standards they may find hard It’s not that parents of other nationalities are less ambitious for to sustain. Rupert Syme, who runs the tutoring service Lionheart, their children, says Bernd Westermeyer, headmaster of Schule Schloss agrees, believing that we are losing perspective on what matters. ‘There Salem in southern Germany – but they value schools in a different way.

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working together across different year groups, the school provides the skills and values that will prepare them for life.

Education must be fostered from within

A COMPLETE EDUCATION Sebastian Hepher, Headmaster of Eaton Square School, on the benefits of a school that sees children the whole way through their education What should parents take into consideration when choosing the right school for their children?

Choosing the right school for your child can be difficult. It’s their first step into the world of education and there are many factors parents should consider when evaluating their options, one of which is the benefits of an all-through school.

Nowadays, many more families are choosing to buy-in from the start of their children’s education, feeling safe knowing that their kids will be able to continue through the school without the fear of a drop in their educational standards or the stress of missing out on a place at a later stage.

At Eaton Square School, we’ve carefully considered the benefits that continuous education brings, not only to the child, but to the whole family and have created a vibrant co-educational school that educates your child from the age of two to the age of 18.

What are the advantages of an all-through school?

Consistency is a clear benefit. Eaton Square School has operated a co-educational nursery, pre-preparatory and preparatory school in the heart of London for many years. We have recently opened an upper school to complete the journey.

Offering continuous education in the important formative years of a child’s life and a shared philosophy and ethos with teachers

Education from two to 18 years old

A well-rounded education

What makes Eaton Square School unique?

We believe education must be fostered from within – it stems from connecting not directing.

Parents entrusting their children to Eaton Square School are ensured that equal importance is placed on intellectual, artistic, physical and musical pursuits throughout their entire educational journey.

In addition, we pride ourselves on making sure all our pupils are happy and confident, so they can progress and thrive as individuals.

Transitioning from nursery to Reception and again from Prep to Senior school, is a big step in a child’s life. At Eaton Square School, our aim is to transform a stressful time into an exciting adventure, where every child feels comfortable with his or her surroundings.

Having children all the way through is an incredible advantage for their personal and educational development – they are not moving between settings with different expectations and the transition from each stage of schooling is much more streamlined.

What would be your final advice for parents?

Whichever school you choose, make sure you do your research, establish your needs and take the time to visit all the locations you are considering – your gut instinct will point you to the right choice. After all, you are the experts when it comes to your own children. www.eatonsquareschool.com

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FEATURE | EDUCATION IN FOCUS

Schools are constantly testing children in both the UK and France

THE AUTHOR

A LESSON IN TWO HALVES Chilled or stressed? You decide, says French educationalist Peter Gumbel, author of They Shoot School Kids, Don’t They? hen it comes to classroom culture, you can divide the world of education into two. On one side are countries where pupils are in competition with one another, where testing is constant, high achievement is an imperative – and stress is a prominent feature of the classroom atmosphere and teaching style. On the other side are countries where education is deliberately low-key, where nobody is tested and where a relaxed view is central to education.

Interestingly, both sides produce winners – and losers. If you look at the national scores of PISA tests, which have been used to evaluate the reading, maths and science skills of 15-yearolds since 2000 and now include more than 60 countries, you’ll see that some countries at the very top of the heap have ferociously high-stress cultures. They

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include Japan and Korea, where the government had to pass a law a few years ago obliging ‘crammer’ night schools to close their doors at 10pm because so many school children were falling asleep in their regular classes the next day.

Near the top of the list, too, are some of the more relaxed countries, notably Finland and other Scandinavians, that refuse on principle to give any marks in primary school and sometimes not even in secondary school – but whose pupils regularly perform highly on average by international comparison.

Then there is the UK and France, where I live (and write about education). The big discussion in British private education these days is whether the testing culture has gone overboard. If anything, French schools are even more stressful and the debate about what has gone wrong is no less full of anguish. Both countries

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is a place for tutoring if channelled correctly. If your child is really struggling with maths GCSE for example, or needs help to unlock potential. Children shouldn’t be over-tutored for exams to get into schools which won’t suit them. It can lead to exam panic and a lack of self-esteem.’

What could we do differently?

Bedales Prep has no uniform and teachers and pupils are on first name terms. Head, Colin Baty explains that, ‘These are symptoms of an ethos that values the individual, rather than as raw material to be moulded to fit their chosen senior school. Bedales doesn’t use Common Entrance, the assessment for entry is more about ensuring a good cultural fit.’

Silas Edmonds, acting principal at Surbiton High School, London believes it’s about achieving equilibrium. ‘In the past, parents might have accepted their child’s unhappiness if they thought it led to A grades. Now they see that children who have a more balanced education, with less pressure, can also achieve good results.’

He adds: ‘Busy is good if it is purposeful. We’ve looked hard at homework, for example. Children have long days with after-school and weekend activities so we’ve reduced the amount we give. For six weeks a year no new homework is set for Key Stage 3 children so they can catch up or take a break.’

We need to slow down, says Mark Turnbull. ‘Education must keep adapting to meet the needs of our increasingly fast-paced modern world, but we need to give children the time they need to think, explore, grow and achieve.’

And attitudes need to be adjusted, says Howe: ‘It would be wonderful if UK universities placed more value on the quality of the person they are recruiting, instead of the quality of that person’s brain as recorded in academic results. Our world’s problems will be solved by community builders with sound values and moral compasses.’

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Children are introduced to new experiences on residential trips

LOOKING AHEAD Philippa Cawthorne, head of Bassett House School, leads from the front and says children need to encounter and manage risk

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ith artificial intelligence poised to make people redundant from many traditional careers in the near future, it is crucial that children are given the right tools to enable them to flourish in this brave new world. Today, a job for life is already an archaic concept.

Children need to be adaptable, resilient, creative and willing to take risks, in order to meet the challenges and seize the opportunities of tomorrow.

The ethos of Bassett House is to provide a child-centred, forward-looking education. In the course of each school day, a Bassett child makes innumerable finelytuned decisions to determine the levels of physical, social and emotional risk they will (or will not) accept to complete a task or understand a problem. Given the right opportunities, children can rehearse a wide range of responses to them, in preparation for an adult world they will eventually have to negotiate. In this way, we see children develop, day by day, an increasing mastery of concepts, skills and habits of thought, upon which they can draw in the future.

Risk-taking represents an important part of the curriculum at Bassett House, especially if it means working with others to solve problems, which we regard as a crucial step towards adulthood.

Children are encouraged to take risks by adopting a can-do approach towards their everyday learning. Acknowledging the fact that some of the most important lessons a child can learn take place outside

Mrs Cawthorne on Mont Blanc

‘The biggest risk is not taking any risk. . .

In a world that is changing really quickly, the only strategy that is guaranteed to fail is not taking risks.’ Mark Zuckerberg

Risk-taking is an important part of life at Bassett House

the classroom such as the development of leadership skills, team-building and active problem-solving.

To this end, children take part in a range of clubs and enrichment activities such as orienteering, martial arts and fencing. These activities are selected to encourage ‘thinking on one’s feet’. The destinations of residential trips are chosen carefully to introduce the children to new experiences, from learning how to rig and sail a boat, to bushcraft activities. London also provides opportunities for other adventures, such as spending a night in the Science Museum.

Children at Bassett House are encouraged to have a growth mindset approach to their learning and not give up when they find something difficult to achieve. In order to inspire the children, staff take up new challenges, such as playing an instrument or learning a new language.

I learnt the oboe last term and undertook a big challenge to attempt to reach the 4810m summit of Mont Blanc to raise money for The House Schools Trust bursary fund.

The grounding that children receive at Bassett House helps pupils to gain places at some of the most prestigious senior schools in London and to thrive once they have moved on. The skills employers are looking for today already favour people who work well in a team and are good at problem solving. If we want children to have the confidence and skills to survive and thrive in an increasingly challenging world, we need to allow them to learn how to develop their own awareness of limits and boundaries – to learn, in short, to take risks.

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THE HEADMASTER

A WORD OF CAUTION Sebastian Hepher, headmaster of Eaton Square School, brings an English perspective to an international debate have been asking myself recently whether the growing need in schools for an increased focus on wellbeing, mindfulness and pupil support mechanisms is something that has always been required but has not been addressed, or whether it is a reflection of the society in which we now live.

I suspect there was an element of the former in the past but, in recent years, the need has escalated hugely.

The question then continues; if it is the latter, is it society itself or is it, perhaps, the basis and mechanisms of our own educational system which has caused this situation? Are we, as educators, responsible for the increased stress, anxiety, related conditions and in many cases unhappiness which our pupils are experiencing?

It is true that any exam system within the school world brings with it an element of pressure. Learning to

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adapt and cope with this is positive and it is not new. However, what has changed in recent years is the greater emphasis on school transfer points at entry and at exit, together with the constant pursuit of improved exam results at GCSE and A-level.

How many heads are appointed with the mandate of improving the academic profile of their new school in terms of its leavers’ destinations or of increasing the number of pupils obtaining A* - A Grades (or 9s and 8s)? How many parents select a prep school which has the ‘best’ results in terms of senior schools it feeds into over and above the school which promises to provide the happiest, most supportive and fulfilling environment for their young child?

This is repeated with the senior schools to university transfer. Is it a coincidence that more and more children are being tutored after school, before school and at weekends than ever before? Parents and schools, or

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thought for years that their educational systems were excellent. Then along came the PISA tests, and it turned out that they were at best mediocre. That left them in the worst of all worlds, with some of the toughest cultures but least satisfactory results.

France in some ways provides an anti-model for the UK. Standards for the school-leaving baccalaureate are extremely high, even though the French grumble that they are falling. The general baccalaureate kicks off every year with an infamous philosophy paper to test general knowledge and reasoning (last year’s questions included: ‘is a work of art necessarily beautiful?’ and, ‘is defending your rights the same as defending your interests?’).

Some people sail through this test, and all the other four-hour papers, but high achievers are a tiny minority. Indeed, the education system acts as social filter: only a third of 17 to 18 year olds takes the general baccalaureate, and the best of those, about five per cent of the total, go on to the elitist ‘grandes écoles’.

One third is pushed into low-prestige vocational education at age 15, while the last third drops out altogether, which explains in part why youth unemployment in France is so high and everyone rages about elitism. The PISA tests and other evaluations have found that French kids have relatively low self-esteem, high levels of stress, and tend to disparage school altogether. The fact that it’s a schoolleaving ritual in France to trash your classroom speaks for itself.

The irony is that France is now starting to look seriously at English schools as a model for how to improve, just as the UK looks to embrace a baccalaureate system. Education minister JeanMichel Blanquer is an outspoken fan of English boarding schools and has created some French pilots. In comparison to French academic rigour, all the sports and arts in UK schools seem exotic; Blanquer is pushing to set up school choirs. He is also a fan of English-style support for failing students. Perhaps, however, both countries should look elsewhere for role models.

EDUCATION IN FOCUS | FEATURE

AT WHAT PRICE?

Asks Helen Wright, who has taught in Hong Kong, the Middle East and Australia and has been headmistress of three girls’ schools including Heathfield in Ascot and St Mary’s Calne in Wiltshire

PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES

Eaton Square School, London

schools and parents, appear to be in an escalating cycle of constant, exam-related focus which is acutely affecting the children’s wellbeing and confidence which in turn is having life-changing consequences.

As a head and father of four I sympathise with the pressures felt by both educators and parents.

I understand how difficult it is to remain strong, independent and wholly wedded to the idea that it is a child’s right to grow up without too much pressure, in an environment which truly develops the whole and which allows time for them to simply ‘be’. How difficult it is not to be fixated with the school, university or place of work that our children should aspire to join. How difficult it is not to be disappointed with ‘lower grades and scores’ achieved and to celebrate wholly and fully the pupil who has improved beyond recognition and who displays such love and kindness to their peers that surely, surely they will be carried on to achieve great things.

There is a huge amount of ‘good’ being done in our schools each and every day. The British independent educational system is one of the most

respected in the world, for justifiable reasons. The opportunities afforded to the children of all ages are staggering and it is right that these are celebrated.

However, we cannot keep avoiding the fact that the exam-based system that has been the backbone of these same schools has gradually developed into one of the most stressful times of a student’s life in an unprecedented manner.

Recent changes by the North London Consortium, a collection of girls’ schools who pool their examination papers so that girls applying to these schools only have to sit one exam, indicates that schools are aware of the situation and responding, as do the discussions that are taking place between the GDST, HMC and IAPS schools in relation to exams and entry points.

This is most positive. However, what we all as educators need to do, is to look at how we can make sure this area and that of the GCSE and A-levels are kept within reasonable bounds. We must also ‘educate’ parents to understand the dangers of over-stretching their young and impressionable children for, if not, I fear that the consequences for them will be most damaging and long-lasting.

The figures speak for themselves: the number of calls to Childline in the UK about exam stress has risen by 11 per cent since 2015, with the majority of calls coming from children aged 12 to 15. In a recent poll in Hong Kong, over 30 per cent of primary aged children were revealed to be at risk of suicide, due in large part to their schoolwork. South Korea has the highest youth suicide rate in the world, again because of the stress engendered by their education. Australian students come top in the exam anxiety stakes, according to the 2017 OECD report into child wellbeing – what on earth is going on, for this to happen in a country synonymous with a relaxed, laid-back life?

The issue lies fair and square with the system – a reductive one which tries to compare young people through numbers and outdated assessment processes, which has built up an expectation that if university isn’t your destination, you have failed.

This expectation has become so ingrained in public consciousness – assisted in no small part by the claims of universities to be the best pathways to a brighter future – that it takes a brave young person to break the mould and get off the treadmill.

Yet there are signs of hope. The UAE has followed through on the promise of its Ministry of Happiness, founded in 2016, with regular surveys of the school population, and the vow to intervene if and when it is needed, to improve pupils’ wellbeing. Persuasive voices around the world emphasise how success in the 21st century demands individuality and creativity of the sort that cannot be measured in our current system. When Andreas Schleicher, OECD Director for Education and Skills, who launched the first OECD PISA report on students’ wellbeing in 2017, starts talking about happiness, it is clear that the winds of change are stirring.

These seeds of hope need to flourish. All over the world, children are suffering because of the stress of their education; collectively we need to take radical action to change this. While it is always going to fall to individual young people to focus on their own personal mental health, supported and encouraged by their parents, families and teachers, it is up to the rest of us to work out how we can pivot and demand a return to what education should be about – the development of young people into who they are. This needs a concerted effort from all of us.

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FEATURE | EDUCATION IN FOCUS

THE PSYCHOLOGIST

GIVE THEM A BREAK

Dr David Whitebread, a developmental cognitive psychologist and early years specialist from Cambridge University, has some advice for our new minister for education

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We must allow children to enjoy their childhood

academic achievement and emotional well-being.

Yet in the UK, successive governments over the last four decades have pushed for earlier and more formal instruction. While pre-school provision is a rag-bag of public and private settings, often staffed by poorly qualified individuals on very low wages, in stark contrast to the highly professional provision in many other European countries.

Secondly, despite decades of evidence showing the very poor returns on homework set for primary-aged children, I reference John Hattie’s meta-analysis of hundreds of studies in this area, hometime which could be far better used is still filled by increasing homework demands.

Some schools have abandoned homework with no effects on levels of achievement, and clearly beneficial outcomes in relation to parent-child relationships. The new minister for education would be well advised to support this movement through guidance or legislation.

Parents, of course, are a powerful lobby and could encourage the minister to move in these directions. At home, overwhelmingly, the developmental evidence indicates the advantages for children who spend significant time in ‘episodes of joint attention’ with significant adults in their lives, or report having fun at home with their families. Such children are more advanced FURTHER in oral language when they start school, cope READING more easily with the demands of early schooling and achieve at higher levels in the long-term.

Whitebread, Children who have more ‘unstructured’ time D. & SinclairHarding, also enter school more capable of ‘self-regulating’ L. (2014), their own mental processes and behaviour, both ‘Neuroscience and the infant of which are associated with friendship skills, brain’ Nursery higher levels of academic achievement’and World 20 October – 2 emotional wellbeing. This includes free play November, with peers and trips with parents to libraries, 21-24. museums, the sea and the zoo.

Bryce, D., SűÐcs, Of course, we cannot turn back the clock D., Soltész, F. & Whitebread, to when life was simpler and less demanding.

D. (2011), ‘The But there are changes we could make, in the development of inhibitory school and the home which would greatly control: An enhance our children’s enjoyment of their averaged and single-trial childhood, and their chances of living a Lateralized productive and happy life. I imagine this is Readiness Potential study’ what every parent would want for their child. n NeuroImage 57 (3), 671 - 685.

Dr David Whitebread is a retired senior member of Homerton College, Cambridge.

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hildhood has changed dramatically over the last few decades, but doubts are voiced as to whether for the better. Children today spend significantly more time indoors than ever before, often interacting with technology rather than other family members or their peers. Increased traffic and safety concerns means that the area where they are allowed to range unsupervised outdoors has shrunk by 90 per cent since the 1970s. The increasingly challenging demands and assessment regimes in schools can lead to dramatically increased levels of stress. Significantly more young children than ever before suffer from obesity and a range of mental health problems.

Many parents today recognise the challenges faced by their children, are concerned about the increased pressure on them at school, and are understandably anxious to know how best to support them. During the same time period as these social and educational changes have occurred, modern research within developmental psychology, neuroscience and related areas has revealed a vast amount of new knowledge. This relates to how children develop and learn and how their experiences in the family, their school and the wider society impact upon them.

As we welcome a new minister for education, Damian Hinds, I want to set out key measures he could introduce that would enhance our children’s levels of achievement without threatening their mental health. It is also worth noting some of the evidence we have of what parents can do to insulate their children from the demands of a 21st-century childhood.

There are significant and universally beneficial changes that could be introduced to our current education system.

Economists have shown the huge economic benefits to society of investment in high quality, evidence-based early years provision yet policy in regard to the early years of education is woefully misinformed and underfunded and needs to be radically overhauled.

We now have overwhelming evidence, for example, that a later start to the formal teaching of literacy, including phonics and formal written maths, leads to higher overall levels of literacy and numeracy, and more positive, confident attitudes in children. A later start to formal schooling in European counties like Finland and Estonia, where children start school at seven, rather than at four, as in the UK, is associated with higher levels of achievement in these areas.

Comparitive studies of children starting formal schooling at different ages within the same country have shown enhanced achievement among later starters. Crucially, studies in the UK, the USA and Germany show that an extended period of high quality, play-based pre-school education leads to higher 80 | SCHOOLHOUSEMAGAZINE.CO.UK | Spring/Summer 2018

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REGULARS OPINION | TEEN SPIRIT | INSIDER VIEW | A RT

Eaton Square School, London

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SCHOOL HOUSE PARTNERSHIP

A helping hand ensures your child realises their full potential

HELP YOUR CHILD SOAR There’s still time for improvement in the current school year

Q A

My child is not achieving the level of success at school that we’d hoped. What options exist to improve her performance now? from Emily Jones, parent of a 12-year-old Countless parents have shared similar stories about their children not meeting expectations in the classroom. We posed this question to Lindamood-Bell Learning Centre Director, Valentina Nikolic, who has helped many struggling students sharpen their study skills, reduce homework stress and improve school performance.

‘I’ve spoken with numerous parents perplexed and anxious about their children’s struggles as the year progresses.

Students may have unrecognised obstacles affecting classroom performance. Lindamood-Bell’s methods reveal those weaknesses and work on sharpening them, often turning them into strengths.’

First: a thorough assessment Lindamood-Bell’s learning ability evaluation measures strengths and weaknesses in a variety of tasks, including spelling, reading fluency, comprehension, vocabulary, following oral directions and maths skills. This initial evaluation’s results give us a starting point and we can chart a targeted plan for improvement. Evaluations can take place either in person or online, dependent on student profiles.

Why intensive instruction is best Most Lindamood-Bell students come for ‘intensive instruction,’ for 4 to 6 hours per day, over a specified number of weeks. Frequent repetition helps strengthen neural connections quickly and we see weaknesses diminish faster.

Skills become automatic in a shorter amount of time. Parents often testify that their children’s abilities improve dramatically, giving them a sense of confidence and catching them up with their schoolmates more quickly than with programmes that meet with students only a few hours per week.

What about after the year ends?

Lindamood-Bell has several options to continue the magic of learning with our students. Intensive instruction is offered daily and during vacation times, at the London Learning Centre. Our Seasonal Learning Centres in North London and Surrey operate in summer, to help students gain the skills they lack. The newest option is the Lindamood-Bell Academy, a private school that meets students’ needs, on their levels and schedules. Academy instruction takes place in-person, online, or a combination of the two.

Flexible and targeted skills-building Our research-validated methods can be applied to nearly any learning difficulty, even for students who’ve had previous diagnoses, such as ASD and auditory processing disorder. Our motto is, ‘Instruction that can change learning, for life,’ and it’s been proven true for those we’ve served.

Follow individualised recommendations As our teachers work with students one-on-one to strengthen weaknesses, we refine students’ plans to take into account the gains they are making. We update parents weekly and share our successes and concerns. We’ll meet with school personnel, too, as needed. It’s a team effort, focused on students’ needs.

Valentina Nikolic, Centre Director Lindamood-Bell Learning Processes Eardley House, 182-184 Campden Hill Road, London, W8 7AS London.centre@lindamoodbell.com +44 (0) 207 727 0660 office +44 (0) 207 727 0880 fax

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CREATIVITY| REGULARS

THE CONFIDENCE TO FLY

Marina Gardiner Legge, headmistress of Heathfield School, Ascot, believes that fostering creativity provides the tools to counteract the negative messages of social media Girls at Heathfield have plenty of opportunity to explore their creativity

Marina Gardiner Legge

here’s an epidemic out there. Teenage girls are constantly assaulted by messages across all media platforms, particularly social media, telling them how to behave and what to wear, act, do and buy in order to fit in. This barrage breeds a lack of confidence which concerns me deeply as the head of a girls’ school responsible for educating a new generation of women.

With so many detrimental messages flying around, vulnerable young girls can quickly assimilate a negative image of themselves and their abilities and looks, which can hamper their confidence in their potential to achieve. In today’s society it is particularly toxic.

So how to address it? Not all girls are academic, but fostering creativity can help address self-esteem issues and build the confidence to fly. Van Gogh said, ‘If you hear a voice within you say “you cannot paint,” then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced.’

A recent study in 2012 found a strong correlation between raised creativity and higher levels of self esteem in both sexes. However, it was more pronounced in females, interesting given that an earlier study in 1999 found that self esteem tends to be higher in men than women as a norm.

Although, in an educational world which demands increasing accountability and where linear examinations are the primary form of differentiation, such an emphasis on creativity may seem counter-

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FURTHER READING Creativity and SelfEsteem: A Multiple Operationalization Validity Study by Ronald Goldsmith and Timothy Matherly The Nature of Creativity by Robert J. Sternberg Gender differences in self-esteem: A metaanalysis by K. C. Kling, J S Hyde, C J Showers & B N Buswell

intuitive. Yet a US study found that students who were asked explicitly for creative answers to problems outperformed other students of the same ability in multiple choice memory tests.

An explicit focus on creative approaches is also highly effective in subjects requiring extensive memorisation. For example, girls at Heathfield created a rap song to remember the order of elements in chemistry; in psychology, brightly coloured mind maps adorn the walls and in academic PE, a Tube map was made to connect body parts by movement.

To be successful, this process starts with the selection process. Good schools find out and focus on what children can do rather than highlight what they can’t. Those who speak English as a second lanuage or have special needs may have a highly developed aesthetic sense, despite not scoring highly in linguistic or numeric assessments. Therefore, including creativity in an assessment is essential to gauge a child’s potential.

It is important that students can learn these lifeskills in a safe and supportive environment before entering adulthood.

Girls at Heathfield direct, run and manage the annual fashion show while others photograph, film and review it. The musicians collate and rehearse performances for the termly musical concert. I am proud of the many girls who write their own songs, sharing their feelings in public. Some pupils recorded a CD in our own studio which they then sold for charity. The wonderful thing about creativity is that once it is celebrated it becomes apparent in all aspects of life.

Creative subjects engender confidence enabling young people to explore and validate their own experiences in both positive and negative ways, therefore becoming the best versions of themselves. ‘Once we believe in ourselves, we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight, or any experience that reveals the human spirit,’ said E.E. Cummings. It is that self-belief that I want to see fostered in all girls.

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ED’S INTERVIEW | REGULARS

A GOOD IDEA

As the government designates 2018 the Year of Engineering, Professor Dame Ann Dowling, President of the Royal Academy for Engineering, talks to Annabel Heseltine about why this country needs engineers FTSE 100 companies have an engineer on their boards and research by Engineering UK in 2012 suggested that 15 per cent of their executive board members have an engineering degree. These are the well paid jobs of the future that we need people to choose.

How attractive is engineering to women?

There is a positive change but it’s not enough. Of those studying engineering at university only 15 per cent are girls. The drop-off happens at schools after GCSEs. Of those taking A-level physics in schools, only 20 per cent are female. Only nine per cent of working engineers are women in the UK, which is out of line with any other country – in France it’s over 20 per cent and in Scandinavian countries it’s in the high twenties.

LEFT: Vicky Hamiton designed knee pads which are now sold in Homebase RIGHT: Professor Dame Ann Dowling

How important are the arts to STEM?

Is engineering making a renaissance in this country?

What more can be done to encourage generation Z into engineering?

There is a growing recognition across society of the important role engineering plays, not only in underpinning our economy, but also in finding solutions to challenges faced by society, which may be clean energy, health or the needs of an aging population. However, we need to work hard to change people’s perceptions.

Britain’s history has left us with an image of engineers as Victorian gentlemen with top hats and cigars and working in the heavy industries, building cars, planes, infrastructure and bridges. It is important to remember that modern engineering is so much more and that it’s a job for women as well as men. It includes biomedical work, with huge changes in diagnostics, including the targeted delivery of cancer drugs to a tumour, deployed in bubbles and activated by ultrasonics. It covers clean air development, with increased efficiency of solar power and decreasing the costs of off-shore energy. High-tech engineering involves everything that makes our phones work, including touch-tone and wireless signal.

Engineers are designing autonomous vehicles to be delivered to your door. Robotics will enable people to live happy, independent and productive lives into old age.

Not enough young people are going into engineering. It’s an inside secret, particularly for women. Those who have gone into engineering do so becasue they know about it, perhaps through a family member and they often do fantastically well.

The Government has nominated 2018 as the Year of Engineering and the academy has kicked off a revolutionary communications campaign using using social media to reach out to people in the arts, sport and fashion, to those hoping to make a difference in the world with the message that this is the career for them.

The academy sponsors Enterprise Fellows, young people seeking to commercialise an engineering innovation, such as recent graduate Victoria Hamilton, whose passion for art led her to designing knee pads which relieve the pressure on knees by 20 per cent.

Now her product is sold in Homebase.

Do you believe engineers are valued enough in this country?

Engineering graduates are some of the best paid graduates, with an above average starting salary of £25,880. More than half of

Engineers have to be creative and imaginative and to be able to look at the big picture to make new products and processes which serve people’s needs better. Art and design plays a crucial part in successful engineering innovation. When the design is right, it’s not merely because of the engineering, it’s also because it looks or feels right. Communication is vital for engineers to explain their work but also for positive team work. Usually if something goes wrong it’s not because the technology failed, it’s because the team didn’t communicate.

How can you inspire children into engineering?

Parents and teachers often bracket childrens’ skills from an early age between the creative and the science types. It is not great for the kids and for an engineer that’s terrible. The academy produced a report Thinking like an engineer, highlighting the attributes that young children can share with engineers such as being inquisitive and having imagination: a cardboard box becoming a castle. They are creative in the way they use things and want to understand things. It’s important that the education system encourages that ‘let’s try it and see, how might we use this in different ways’ attitude. n yearofengineering.gov.uk

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REGULARS | SUBJECT VIEW

ALL STEAMED UP Alice Phillips, head of St Catherine’s, Bramley, argues that STEM without an ‘A’ is missing the big picture ago, St Catherine’s hosted a cyber security day, where the girls were amazed to discover that, after the obvious science-related subjects, English was one of the most popular degrees taken to enter this field. It is too easy to ghettoise subjects into silos, and thereby fail to see the obvious and most beneficial overlapping and dovetailing that exists between the arts and sciences in the ‘real world’ of work. It is also, dare I say it, a rather lazy way to consider schooling.

At St Catherine’s, we have taken the decision to retain the AS-level exam for our sixth form, largely because it allows those girls who wish to pursue both sciences and arts the ability to do so for one further year. The extra maturity and A-level standard teaching allows them to see where their true interests and personal strengths lie before they might choose to focus on only three A-levels.

Many of these students, the so-called Generation Z, will find themselves working in technological careers. If they take their Alice Phillips creative and artistic talents with them, our economy and society will be greater for it, as they work alongside those for whom chemistry, maths, physics and computer sciences are their passions. So-called ‘soft skills’ will always be in demand; teamwork, collaboration, communication and resilience are as important as being sharply analytical.

The gender divide in science is well on the way to being broken down and can only level out more if that ‘softer’, more collaborative and collegiate approach that women bring to the table, is recognised, acknowledged and encouraged. This is a win-win.

To glimpse the future, just look at how office environments are changing. Yesterday’s closed off, partitioned office space has given way to open plans that are deliberately designed (there is that creativity popping up again!) to foster the exchange of ideas, collaboration and transparency. Terms such as ‘incubation’, ‘cross-pollination’ and ‘symbiosis’ have come out of the confines of the biology lab and are nowadays used to describe the modern work environment. These concepts are bringing down more than brick walls and are flattening hierarchies even further. So, as well as valuing the arts in STEM, we should focus as much on the TEAM in STEAM. The ‘A’ is important.

Always has been, and always will be.

The arts and humanities are not second-class subjects

he five-letter acronym STEAM is a far more superior place to start than STEM, for there has always been a strong element of artistry and creativity in most technological innovation and development. Aesthetics have always been an essential component of the creative process. Think of the beauty of a Telford suspension bridge from the 18th century or, for a more up-to-date example, Apple’s latest iPhone, where the reviewers notoriously focused as much, if not more, on its attractiveness as a ‘thing of beauty’ rather than its technologically innovative features. Certainly that’s how I recall my first iPhone 3: beautiful – and oh so useful, too.

Wearable technology is arguably the most exciting area of consumer technology and you can bet your bottom dollar those companies responsible for the devices many of us now wear will have employed individuals skilled in the art of making consumer products look and feel fashionable and comfortable. Even the most humble app or computer game has had input from a designer.

There should be no confusion, however, that the arts, humanities and languages are as valuable as scientific subjects. Just a few months

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SCHOOL HOUSE PARTNERSHIP

Technology enhances traditional teaching rather than replacing it

MOBILE LEARNING Cliff Canning, Headmaster at Hampshire Collegiate School, on how mobile technology is being embraced in the classroom

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t Hampshire Collegiate School, digital technology is part of the fabric of our teaching and learning environment. We have achieved this by investing in professional development and connectivity infrastructure and by providing every member of staff (and from September, our pupils) with a tablet device. We offer a technology-infused environment that balances the best of tradition and innovation.

When we think about children using technology, we tend to associate its use with leisure. From this perspective, it is easy to let the opportunities that mobile digital technology offer education go unnoticed.

But like everything, technology can be used well or badly, so learning how to use it appropriately is equally important for both teachers and pupils.

So, in our lessons, technology is used to present new topics vividly and memorably; to facilitate and enhance the giving of feedback; to provide opportunities to practice the retrieval of concepts and meaning through frequent low-stakes testing and quizzing; to access effective audio-visual subject specific resources at spaced intervals; to keep track of homework; to work collaboratively when the need arises and to promote the learning and working habits that will help pupils continue learning and developing personally

all while adhering to high expectations of appropriate use and behaviour. These skills are useful in a professional capacity and stretch well into adulthood.

But one of the greatest advantages of technology is as true in the classroom as it is in our daily lives: it can help us do things that would otherwise be impossible without it. The appropriate use of digital technology allows our pupils to have ubiquitous access to a curated corpus of knowledge that helps them to learn whenever the need arises; they can film science experiments easily for later study and reflection; video and edit well-researched films on topics from Shakespeare to the origin of our universe; record themselves speaking in a foreign language to fine-tune accent and pronunciation; or communicate and collaborate with students in the next classroom or on the other side of the world just as easily.

But none of this is to say that we eschew pen and paper. The whole point of technology is that it is used when there are clear benefits to teaching or learning.

To us this means that great teaching and the effective use of technology are indistinguishable.

Alongside our tablets, our pupils still rely on older technology that has proven its worth throughout the ages: exercise books and textbooks are all still there. If anything, handwriting is thriving, as pupils move seamlessly between printed and digital media.

But just because pupils all have an exercise book, it doesn’t mean they should be using it all the time. In our context, there is always a time and a place. To us, innovative use of digital technology does not substitute great, traditional teaching and The learning environment learning, it enables is infused with technology them.

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REGULARS | INSIDE STORY

CONFESSIONS OF...

A SCIENCE TEACHER Mark Burley, Head of Science at Papplewick School, Ascot, explodes a few myths

and there’s plenty of vocal support for (and from) the participants.

Life in the herpetology club is always lively, but we’ve only had one escapee to date – a corn snake slithered off. Luckily he didn’t get far and was found in a comfortable spot behind a cement bucket in our new boarding house, spotted by a friendly builder who alerted the search party of boys to his hiding-place.

Class work includes studying the breeding process of the reptiles and insects.

Boys learn basic genetics, trying to breed different kinds of frogs and bearded dragons in unusual colours. Year 8 scholars dissect and study rats and frogs, and there’s plenty of pond-dipping in the summer months. In addition, boys study plant populations using a quadrat, so that they can be identified and counted in an exact area.

Our rocket club is also hugely popular.

The boys design, make, spray-paint and launch their own rockets – sometimes as high as 200 metres and often soaring out of sight of the launch pad. Luckily, our grounds opposite Ascot Racecourse are large and the rockets alway parachute down within the school perimeter.

In what we call the ‘Coke and Mentos’ experiment, Mentos (peppermint sweets) are dropped into cans of Coke outside, and we watch as the liquid explodes two to three metres into the air in what is known as an ‘irreversible he science lab here reaction’. Another reversible and at Papplewick is unique irreversible reaction is studied by among prep schools. It’s passing a lab gas through a homemade teeming with life, and liquid soap solution, scooping up the that’s not just the boys. bubbles in our hands, setting them Our belief that a love of science alight and watching the flames go comes from hands-on experience up through the bubbles. You can – experiments, collecting data, ‘For me, a love of science comes imagine how much the boys enjoy observing events – has led from experiments, so these lightthis kind of experimentation. to an explosion (sometimes literally) hearted activities might seem Experiments encourage a love of activity in our first-floor lab. like just a lot of fun, but there’s of science, so while these lightThe most popular club at the school, with over 100 members, is the a serious educational side to them’ hearted activities might seem like just a lot of fun, there’s a serious herpetology club. Boys can buy snakes educational side to them too. or lizards for a small sum and care for We record the experiments and them as well as studying them in class. interpret the results with graphs, helped by the IT department and Ten years ago, the club boasted a friendly python who was we push the boundaries by seeing what might happen if we change the introduced to the school by our science teacher, Mr Elkington. Today process. All the boys are encouraged to experiment themselves using we have a whole community of creatures, including frogs, bearded equipment in our two purpose-built, well-equipped laboratories. dragons (30 and counting), geckos, 60 cornsnakes, numerous I’m delighted to say that our efforts to engage our pupils in scientific chameleons (who breed regularly), fish, tarantulas and millipedes. activity from a young age have proved to be extremely fruitful and I hasten to say that none of our creatures are dangerous to the boys. many of our boys – 26 in the last two years – earn scholarships In the summer there’s a very particular and competitive sports day to independent senior schools.

– for our hissing cockroaches. The boys race six at a time in a channel An interest in science is instilled in pupils through a hands-on approach

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The famous Coke and Mentos experiment

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Sherborne School, Dorset

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TEEN SPIRIT | REGULARS

R ACE TO MONGOLIA Genghis Khan may have conquered half the world but the Mongol Rally could not defeat Old Shirburnian Finlay Thomson

was enjoying a half pint of Exhibition cider when a friend studying at the University of Bristol asked me if I wanted to go on an adventure in the summer break.

The rules of the Mongol Rally state that we would have to drive from England to Mongolia in a car over ten years old, with an engine no bigger than 1.2l. I said yes immediately.

Before I could go anywhere, I needed a driving licence. The question of whether I would pass Finlay Thomson was my test dominated the next few months. after an adventure I made it, after two failed practicals and with only four days to spare.

Our mode of transport was a 1992 Rover Metro which had been converted for wheelchair access and which we nicknamed The Popemobile.

Our first stop, after driving through France, Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany was a Mongol Rally party in Prague. Nothing the Pope can’t handle, we said, but we hadn’t bargained on the rally organisers thinking that it would be fun to invite 250 drunken ralliers to break the world record of numbers squeezed into a car, using the Popemobile.

The fact that the Pope soon required a bottle of coolant a day could be because of the 37 people that we squeezed in, killing the previously robust suspension. Or it could be due to the lorry driver who took off half a door and a mirror wing (and was split seconds from removing my arm as well) as we pushed through Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria to Istanbul. I don’t know. But by the time we reached Ankara, the Pope was on its knees and soon, three bottles of coolant weren’t enough.

Eleven days later, still in Ankara, we resigned ourselves to the fact that we would have to cover the next 7,864 km to Mongolia on public transport and promptly donated the Pope to a grateful Turkish government.

So, Georgia was a seventeen hour bus ride. Azerbaijan to Kazakhstan was a miserable 35-hour ferry trip across the Caspian Sea in 43°C heat, in a cabin with no air con or windows. In Kazakhstan, we found wifi and re-grouped to push onto the city of Aktau but it was here that we lost one of our trio. Overwhelmed by the prospect of a 30-hour train ride to Nukus (Uzbekistan) in the third class of an overpacked

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1960s Soviet train with wooden seats, Tom decided to go home. His Russian visa wouldn’t let him in without a car so he decided to give up.

Harry and I took the train. The carriages were crammed but it wasn’t all bad. A lovely old man shared his tea and biscuits with us and somebody offered me a plank to lie on. But they didn’t like my feet. It is customary to take your shoes off but I had been wearing mine for two weeks with a limited supply of socks and the entire carriage erupted in anger over the stench. It was my 19th birthday.

For £15 each we hired a taxi for the next thousand kilometres to the city of Samarkand. But, in Almaty, Harry also decided to call it a day. He too couldn’t get into Russia without a car.

I desperately wanted to go home with him but I had to finish. I had scraped a third in my uni exams the year before and I wasn’t proud of myself.

I needed to prove that I could do it.

And thanks to Riccardo, an Italian PhD student, I did. But at a price.

Riccardo is the axe-wielding champion of the live-action medieval warfare community and, for seven hours, I endured thrash metal music all the way to the Russian border until, miraculously, I ran into two other ralliers; British students driving a VW polo who generously gave me the wheel. I was back in the game.

An hour later I crashed into the back of a Toyota Prius and spent the next 20 minutes repeating ‘niet Rusky’ to an irate and obviously deaf Russian who only understood me when I handed over $20 in compensation.

Eleven hours driving later we crossed the Mongolian boarder.

It was freezing. I had ditched my warmer clothes in Turkey.

We camped in the wild and stunning Gobi desert, and then drove 2000 kilometres on mainly unpaved roads to the capital, Ulaanbaatar before making a final push to the Russian city of Ulan-Ude. Two days later, 42 days after leaving England, I crossed the finishing line with a huge sigh of relief and an amazing sense of achievement.

Against all odds I had done it, without a car or for that matter, a credit card. Genghis Khan may have conquered half the world but Mongolia had not defeated me. It wasn’t an easy ride, but the memories will stay with me for the rest of my life.

‘I had to finish. I had scraped a third in my uni exams the year before and I wasn’t proud of myself. I needed to prove that I could do it’

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REGULARS | SCHOOL HEROES

B E S T O F. . .

SCHOOL HEROES Imogen Agnew meets the true heroes of school life.

Portraits by Alexandra Dao CRAIG Head Chef BLUNDELL’S SCHOOL, DEVON

Craig is setting the bar high for school food at Blundell’s. ‘It’s about producing the best food you can with the resources available to you,’ the Masterchef finalist tell us, which means some very impressive dishes. He believes in feeding children creatively and nutritiously and prides himself on using fresh, seasonal produce. Craig’s cookery classes are oversubscribed and his curry night for dads is a hit. Roasted celeriac with thyme, confit onions and cave aged gruyere, anyone?

CHARLOTTE Sixth-form Housemistress BADMINTON, BRISTOL

Girls flock to Charlotte’s flat not only to seek her sage advice – ‘It’s ok not to be ok, but it’s not ok to stay that way’ – but also to spend time with her cat, Felicity, who the girls have adopted as their own. She champions all her girls and cooks with them every Sunday to make them feel at home.

BOB Head Groundsman MILLFIELD PREP, SOMERSET

The pupils are such fans of Bob that they named their cricket ground after him.

He has been an integral part of the school for 49 years, having joined at 15 as junior groundsman.

After his semiretirement last year, Bob now coaches trampolining.

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MOLLY Headmaster’s Wife HORRIS HILL, HAMPSHIRE

‘Children need to be surrounded by enthusiasts,’ says Molly. She can often be found in her kitchen garden – the best conversations take place over a spade while digging up a weed.

Molly’s enthusiasm doesn’t stop at helping the boys to look after pigs, sheep and chickens. After her five-year-old son beat her at chess, Molly decided to start a chess club and found a former Grandmaster to teach the boys.

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REGULARS | SCHOOL HEROES

LIZ Catering Manager OAKHAM, RUTLAND

The kitchens at Oakham prepare a staggering 2,700 meals a day, all under the watchful eye of Liz, the much-loved catering manager who has worked at the school for over 30 years. She defies chocolate cake and custard not to cheer any pupil up.

ROB The Maintenance Man WALHAMPTON , HAMPSHIRE

Rob, a Falklands veteran, is humbled by his hero nomination. His favourite memory is lifting up a visiting primary school pupil so that the boy could see the sea for the first time.

TIM Security Guard BRYANSTON SCHOOL, DORSET

Tim’s role as security means he is often the first person to meet prospective parents who remark upon his friendly manner. He and his fellow security guards have been cited as a contributing factor in choosing the school for their child.

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BOB Postman ST SWITHUN’S, HAMPSHIRE

Bob is universally adored by all the St Swithun’s girls who last year put him forward to make a speech at Winchester Cathedral, one of his proudest moments. Naturally gregarious, he loves talking to everyone as he goes about his day. He dresses up as Father Christmas, cheers up nervous students queueing before exams and has even made up parcels for students to avoid them feeling left out.

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SCHOOL LEAVER NEWS | GA P YEA R | UNIVERSITY | CA REERS

Edinburgh Napier University

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UNIVERSITY NEWS | SCHOOL LEAVER

ON THE BRINK News for those about to make the leap

START-UP NOW UK’S BIGGEST GRADUATE CAREERS SITE Magnet.me, launched just two years ago, has become the biggest student and graduate careers site, with 75,000 registered users to date. It advertises more than 3,000 internships, placements and graduate jobs.

NEW SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMME FOR WOMEN IN TECHNOLOGY

PARENTAL ADVICE

Booking.com has announced new scholarship programmes with the University of Oxford and Delft University of Technology, Netherlands to address the under-representation of women in STEM related areas of study. Designed to support women seeking careers in the technology sector, the € 500,000 grants will cover university fees and living expenses.

EY (Ernst & Young), a financial services company and large graduate recruiter, has launched a Parental Advice Campaign, connecting parents with experts to better help them advise their children on their future careers.

The event hosted speakers such as Sarah Beeny and Jack Parsons, CEO of Yourfeed, a social platform connecting young people to employers.

POST-BREXIT The exam board, Cambridge Assessment English, hosted a debate on international recruitment in universities post-Brexit. It found that while there is no decline in interest in Erasmus, an EU university exchange programme, stronger partnerships between UK and EU universities are key to sustaining international admissions.

GLOBAL LEADERSHIP CENTRE

DOCTOR, DOCTOR

To tackle the shortage of NHS doctors, the government has announced an additional 500 medical school places for the next application cycle. This is part of the recent drive to increase diversity in the medical profession, which is being driven by a range of medical schools including Brighton and Sussex and education platforms like The Medic Portal.

Saïd Business School has commissioned a new Global Leadership Centre for the University of Oxford. The space will provide study, meeting and social areas within a collegiate-style quad.

MILLENIAL GRADUATES According to Gallup, 60 per cent of millennials are open to new job opportunities while already employed. Employers must attract and retain millennials to stay favourable. It has been found that this generation require constant feedback.

PwC, a professional services company and big graduate recruiter, found that 41 per cent of millennials want feedback at least once a month.

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University of Edinburgh

DEGREE

BY DEGREE ost students educated in the independent sector consider the traditional ‘golden route’ for school leavers to be three A-levels followed by a Russell Group degree. But, with the rise in tuition fees and the current state of the graduate job market, they are now also open to considering other options, whether it’s a different type of degree or no degree at all. Today, there are a significant number of respectable alternatives including apprenticeships, gap years, overseas study, voluntary work, online distance learning and setting up your own business, and there are some other very good universities too.

When choosing a university, however, many students will first consider the Russell Group of universities, a self-selected group of 24 world-class universities which are by no means homogenous and vary considerably with their own unique selling points. Graduates from Russell Group universities can expect to earn on average around 10 per cent more than graduates of other UK universities over a lifetime.

These universities demonstrate excellence and critical mass in research as well as a first-class educational experience where students will, according to their websites, ‘learn from some of the

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world’s finest minds, have access to the very best teaching facilities and be part of a talented, diverse peer group’.

Conversely, Russell Group universities are popular with graduate recruiters and their graduates are highly sought after by many major UK and global firms. Stephen Isherwood, Chief Executive of the Association of Graduate Recruiters, says, ‘Graduate recruiters and developers highly value the breadth of intellect and skills that many Russell Group graduates can bring to their organisations.’

The Russell Group prides itself on cultivating valuable employment skills such as problem-solving, learning independently and thinking, recognising these as all valuable ‘work-ready’ skills for the 21st century.

Carolyn Fairbairn, Director General of the Confederation of British Industry, believes that, ‘Business needs innovation, skills and insight to succeed. Russell Group universities are vital to all three.’

Choosing the ‘right’ institution can certainly impact your graduate prospects. In the QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2018, 14 of the top 100 universities worldwide are Russell Group, including Cambridge in sixth place and Oxford in eighth. UCL is 17th and Imperial College, London is 29th. Other RG universities

PHOTOS: WILL KING

John Dabell suggests that a Russell Group university is no longer the only option for first class students

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PHOTOS: WILL KING

in this ranking include Manchester, Bristol, LSE, Nottingham, Edinburgh, Kings College London, Warwick, Leeds, Durham and Birmingham.

The subject you study matters too. In 2016, the Institute for Fiscal Studies, Cambridge University, Harvard University and the Institute of Education, UCL published research on graduate earnings in England. They found that medicine, economics, law, maths and business delivered ‘substantial premiums over typical graduates’.

For many students, a Russell Group institution will be the right decision, but to believe that it is the only route worth taking can be limiting their options unnecessarily.

They constitute just 15 per cent of the higher education market and there are other non-RG universities commanding excellent reputations with great facilities.

Other university groups include the University Alliance, a group of ‘business engaged’ universities such as Nottingham Trent University, The Open University and Manchester Metropolitan University. Another is the MillionPlus group, a public policy think tank made up of modern universities who describe themselves as ‘the driving force and voice of 21st-century education’.

The latter includes Anglia Ruskin University, Edinburgh Napier University and Leeds Trinity University.

A coalition of smaller, research-intensive universities, called the 1994 Group, was created in that year and represented 17 universities, but was eventually disbanded in 2013. Then there are some universities who choose not to be part of any group such as the University of St Andrews, which is ranked as one top 200 universities in the world based on the 2018 edition of the QS World University Rankings.

Particular universities excel in certain areas so the Russell Group won’t always be the best option for every subject. For example, Loughborough University is wellknown for sport, engineering and technology and, in these areas, is now ranked ahead of two thirds

University of Bristol

THE BIGGER PICTURE Many of the best universities for creative courses, journalism or healthcare are not Russell group Three of the top five universities in the Guardian university league tables 2018 are non-Russell Group.

Former polytechnic Coventry University is number 12.

The Times University of the Year 2018 The University of Lancaster is not from the Russell Group.

The National Student Survey 2017 UK found that universities which have the most satisfied students include the private University of Buckingham, the Royal Veterinary College, and the University of St Andrews which all tied for first place with a 94 per cent approval rating.

Fourth place is taken

by Harper Adams University (93%), with Loughborough University, the London Institute of Banking and Finance and St Mary’s University College, Belfast in joint fifth (92 per cent).

of the Russell Group.

‘Teaching Excellence and Student Outcomes Framework (TEF)’, published by The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) is of considerable interest. This is a new scheme that aims to recognise and reward excellence in teaching, learning and outcomes, and to help inform prospective students about the choices available.

Participating higher education providers receive a gold, silver or bronze award reflecting the excellence of their teaching, learning environment and student outcomes.

Interestingly, more than half of Russell Group institutions did not score a gold rating after entering the new TEF: 21 Russell Group universities took part and eight (38 per cent) were given a gold rating (including Oxford and Cambridge), 10 (48 per cent) were awarded silver and three (14 per cent) achieved a bronze.

Sixty universities have been awarded gold including newer universities like Portsmouth, Coventry, De Montfort, Huddersfield and Derby. Buckingham was awarded a ‘double positive’ rating for achieving top marks across all six assessment categories.

There are rumours circulating among students that it’s hard to get a good job without going to a Russell Group but this is a myth as employers are not so black and white. A 2016 survey found that 58 per cent of leading employers valued work experience among graduates more than grades or the name of their university. Only 15 per cent said that they were looking for a degree from a specific university.

Helen Eleftheriou, an Early Careers Resourcing Manager at Rolls Royce, says, ‘We believe everyone should be able to be their best. We are passionate about diversity and celebrate the different ways people think and do things. A diverse and inclusive working environment reflects our customers and our global footprint. Because of this, we work hard to attract candidates from a wide range of Russell Group and non-Russell Group universities. We look for candidates who are curious and have great problem solving, communication and influencing skills. We also look for candidates who are innovative and have passion for their chosen subject regardless of the university they attended. We also offer Degree Apprenticeships as an alternative to university, we

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Manchester Metropolitan University

provide extensive work experience and a fully-funded degree at some of the UK’s top universities.’

There can be a lot of pressure on schools to ‘get it right’ and advising students is a huge responsibility. Schools are rightly aspirational and ambitious but many celebrate the transition to any university regardless of its status in the wider public spectrum.

Patrick Derham, headmaster at Westminster School, says his Higher Education team advise students to focus their research on teaching and contact time, departmental facilities and precise details of course content and assessment. While the bulk of his students do apply for RG courses, not all of them do.

‘A number of non-RG universities offer specialised courses that equally appeal to our pupils, depending on their specific requirements for undergraduate study. Some examples are The Courtauld Institute for history of art, Art Schools for Art Foundation courses, the University

of Bath for its specialised science programs, SOAS for Arabic and related courses, The University of Kent for its European connections and a number of Scottish universities, among others.’

Kevin Fear, headmaster of Nottingham High School, says that although lots of his students also go to Russell Group universities, ‘we encourage all of our students to look widely at potential university courses, to visit them on Open Days and primarily make their choices around the nature of the course and the feel of the university.

We would never tell any student where they should go.’

Making a clear and informed choice is crucial but the sheer number of league tables in existence makes this a tough assessment as they come with lots of sub-rankings based on individual subjects, departments, types of university or regional breakdowns.

Recently the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) and Committees of Advertising Practice (CAP) issued guidelines

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UNIVERSITY SELECTION | SCHOOL LEAVER

RUSSELL GROUP UNIVERSITIES to universities after some institutions were making ambiguous claims about their ‘top one per cent’, ‘best’ and ‘top’ status. ASA and CAP say that ‘choosing a university can be a difficult decision and a big commitment, and it is important that advertisers do not make claims that could lead would-be students into making the wrong decision’.

Students need to treat what is said by universities with some scepticism and the onus is on institutions to hold ‘robust evidence’ to substantiate any claims they make and not to exaggerate it or ‘go further than the evidence held’.

Interestingly, the head of policy at the Russell Group, Sarah Stevens, says that applicants should look beyond league tables to pick the course that is right for them as ‘it is hard for any university ranking to capture the full student experience that an institution provides’.

Although some universities carry a certain weight and star appeal, there are plenty of parents and teachers advising their children to see the bigger picture and to realise that names and rankings aren’t the be all and end all.

University may be the most popular entry option but that doesn’t mean it is right for everyone. Some students quite rightly turn their back on a traditional academic route in order to follow their personal interests and talents through another path.

Everyone’s situation is unique and finding the shoe that fits is so important. n

THE RUSSELL GROUP UNIVERSITIES University of Birmingham University of Bristol University of Cambridge Cardiff University Durham University University of Edinburgh University of Exeter University of Glasgow Imperial College London King’s College London University of Leeds University of Liverpool LSE (London School of Economics & Political Science) University of Manchester Newcastle University University of Nottingham University of Oxford Queen Mary University of London Queen’s University Belfast University of Sheffield University of Southampton UCL (University College London) University of Warwick University of York

OTHER TOP RANKING UNIVERSITY GROUPS UNIVERSITY ALLIANCE

Edinburgh Napier University

University of Birmingham University of Brighton University of Central Lancashire Coventry University University of Greenwich University of Hertfordshire University of Huddersfield Kingston University Liverpool John Moores University Manchester Metropolitan University Nottingham Trent University The Open University Oxford Brookes University University of Portsmouth University of Salford Sheffield Hallam University University of South Wales Teesside University UWE Bristol (University of the West of England, Bristol)

MILLION PLUS UNIVERSITY ALLIANCE

University of Derby

Abertay University Anglia Ruskin University Bath Spa University University of Bedfordshire University of Bolton Canterbury Christ Church University University of Cumbria University of East London Edinburgh Napier University University of the Highlands and Islands Leeds Trinity University London Metropolitan University London South Bank University Middlesex University Southampton Solent University Staffordshire University University of Sunderland University of West London University of the West of Scotland

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New jobs are cropping up in expanding industries such as science and IT

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CAREERS | SCHOOL LEAVER

CANNY CAREER CHOICE James Barton, of Mander Portman Woodward, advises students on how to get ahead in the job stakes

hoosing what you want to do when leaving university can be daunting.

It’s tough out there and finding a good job can be difficult and there is the additional burden for those who haven’t yet decided what they want to do.

But students should relax. If you don’t get it right the first time around, it is not the end of the world. Jobs are no longer for life. Statistically, young adults can expect to change their careers two to three times in a working lifetime and recruitment firms are finding that 20-somethings change jobs several times in a decade in order to build their CV and gain inter-changeable skills. Employees in the IT profession, for example, will gain more skills by working for different companies rather than staying loyal to one business. However, thinking laterally can ease the process; dig deeper and choose a less obvious career path and you might find that getting your dream job is easier than you thought.

The arts may be oversubscribed and often underpaid, so is the media, but there are plenty of exciting, challenging and creative, less soughtafter jobs where a canny person can find an exciting career. Instead of fixating on a marketing agency, for example, why not take a marketing role in a customer service based company? Same skills, different route. Then there are the new jobs popping up every month in exponentially growing industries such as in IT or scientific research.

The good news is that a British education is designed to build skills and employers are far more flexible than they used to be, they are now more concerned about the accumulation of skills than the degree taken at university. In the past, the pyramid effect of our education, ten GCSEs

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to three A-levels to a degree, tended to require students, especially in the sciences, law and medicine, to select suitable subjects early on, but now the job market almost favours the opposite.

Aspiring engineers, vets, medics and architects will nearly all study maths and science subjects at A-level, but wannabe lawyers no longer have to study law at university. Increasingly, bigger law firms favour students studying an unrelated degree followed by a conversion course, thereby gaining additional skills and experiences before training in their own brand of the law.

There will always be a misfit between popular careers chased by too many and careers which have so few people training in them, such as medicine and engineering. On the continent, engineers are valued, but in the UK engineering has had to compete for acceptance by ambitious graduates.

However, it seems to be going through a renaissance, supported by universities and the government.

Ten per cent more technology and engineering degrees are awarded every year and 2017 saw the highest number of engineering apprenticeship places offered in over ten years. The government also released an additional 2,000 places to study medicine to address the NHS skills shortage.

Savvy students are wising up to the knowledge that STEM subjects offer excellent prospects and are moving away from the ‘sexier’, more liberal jobs such as marketing, advertising and PR as the dearth of these kinds of jobs hits home.

But, for most parents, the concern will be around what advice they can give their children, for example on the importance of A-level choice. ‘Choosing a career must start in school, first considering a child’s interests and aptitudes at GCSE level,’ says Bella

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Eccles, founder of Tinker Tailor, a consultancy offering a tailored approach to career discovery. Statistically it is proven that pupils who ask these questions in year nine tend to be more successful, because it demonstrates focus, determination and a realistic evaluation of their talents. Given the changing university landscape and high costs, pupils should be asking themselves ‘what am I learning and what am I good at? Then communicating that, so that people can help’.

However, choosing the right combination of A-level subjects ‘is absolutely crucial and it is important students get the right advice early in their GCSE year’, says Richard Berlie, former head of upper school at Dulwich College and an expert in careers guidance. ‘They should be reassured that most jobs will recruit graduates from any discipline (although the institution and class of degree remain important factors). To assist them, schools like Dulwich employ aptitude testing like the Moresby Test taken in year 11 and COA, which produces an individual profile suggesting career options.

Being strategic in subject choice is clever both at A-levels and university. At A-level it’s about choosing subjects with a common theme like maths, physics, chemistry and in the humanities: history, politics, economics or English, which are especially helpful for honing cross-over skills like essay writing. At university level, it’s about thinking outside the box and being more imaginative in a degree choice.

John Southworth is the principal of MPW, a university specialist. ‘One of the problems we face in the independent sector is that our pupils are incredibly conservative in their UCAS course choices.’ Mary Curnock Cook, formerly CEO of UCAS, urges candidates to consider the full range: ‘there are thousands of course options at many good institutions,’ she says.

The essential ingredient for success is cohesive thinking between academic teachers, tutors and careers and UCAS advisors. Students often complain that getting the right advice can be difficult. Vincent Karremans, founder of magnet.me, the UK’s biggest student and careers site says, ‘Careers fairs used to be a place where students could meet potential employees but they are less popular now. Fewer companies exhibit, and often it’s a vanity exercise for big businesses.’

Careers departments are variable in quality, says Eccles, ‘careers advice is not always up to date as new careers are popping up the whole time’. She sees a stark difference between the state sector, where it is about raising expectations and the independent sector, where it is about managing them.

‘Careers advice should be about teaching students not to make assumptions,’ says Helen Kingaby, international admissions manager at Taunton School, a school with an excellent record of careers guidance. ‘Arguably the best advice we can give is to think laterally and to consider other less populated careers in order to get yourself a job. It is a bit like the housing market, often you

just need that first rung on the ladder.’

But which ladder? Before launching into any degree choices, students should first whether university is the right step for their chosen career. Apprenticeships are increasingly popular, some of which allow work and part-time study, as are internships. In March 2017, the Chancellor, Philip Hammond announced £500 million investment into technical education and the education secretary called on businesses to help create ‘an army of skilled young people’. M&S and Sainsburys have had A-level graduate schemes for years but there are many newer schemes, including a multi-faceted civil service graduate programme.

Internships open doors and give graduates and school leavers a taste of a career without commitment. James Potten, managing director of the RED Academy, a design and technology school with campuses in London, Toronto & Vancouver advises that the most important thing is to get ahead. The first challenge is ‘identifying something you really care about and then finding a way to gain practical experience in it. Anything you proactively engage in makes you more attractive to a company looking for talent.

If you can tie this into something that gives you practical experience too, even better’.

Schools’ careers departments and UCAS teams need to be on top of the changing careers landscape with continued training for UCAS reference writers. It’s the same too with supplying predicted grades – they need to be supportive but it doesn’t help if predictions are wildly optimistic,’ says Richard Berlie. Sadly, parents often cannot help their children as they simply don’t know the market.

‘Parents often say to me, “If I don’t know what it looks like, how can I prepare them for it,”’ agrees Eccles.

It’s a fair point when Andrew Gardner, senior divisional director at Reed Technology, writes in the Independent that the top ten graduate careers today are best suited for those with computer skills. These jobs include data analyst,

THE MOST POPULAR JOBS IN 2017 Data Communications Analysts Marketing Officer Software Engineers Medical Administrator Community Nurse Advertising Agency Account Executive Customer Services Assistant Information Officer Administrator Engineer According to alec.co.uk

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Being strategic about subject choices at GCSE an A-level pays off

java developer and technical architect, areas traditionally unfamilar to parents, who might be heartened to know that there is a rising demand for jobs in the more familiar human resources and hospitality sectors.

Above all it’s about being savvy and flexible, says the Bloomberg skills report. Students should look for the skills gaps and upskill against the market, which doesn’t mean learning core skills for skills based jobs, but embracing more lateral thinking skills like strategic thinking, creative problem-solving and leadership skills which are less common but more sought after, and applicable to a wider range of career paths.

RED Academy, providing training on UX and UI design, web and app development and digital marketing, fits the model of lateral upskilling. Their students work on real projects with real clients for an authentic experience and RED prides itself in being radically relevant, constantly updating their curriculum to mirror the industry’s needs.

Employer engagement is vital and employers are working hard to speak their employees’ language, explaining about the variety

of jobs available in any one industry so that students are not put off by a perception that it is not for them. Aside from the creatives, for example, advertising agencies have always needed account managers to service the clients, data gatherers and media salesman too.

‘We are trying to avoid them taking the “I can’t do this so I won’t do that” attitude,’ says Eccles of Tinker Tailor, who acts as a go-between students and employers. ‘These are not your infamous millennials, who are unfairly labelled as needy, selfish, ingenuine. This is the information generation, they are more resilient and open-minded about work. They are social media savvy.’

They are better at creative thought and can afford to be positive.

The mood music is, if traditional jobs are oversubscribed and not your pathway, think creatively, don’t be closed to new ideas. Be inspired by those around you and remember the best way to get ahead is to not be afraid to get something wrong, but ultimately it is about feeling your way through. To give Eccles the last word, ‘The challenge for the next generation will not be finding a job, it will be finding the right job.’ n Spring/Summer 2018 | SCHOOLHOUSEMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 109

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GET COVERED hey say there’s more than one way to skin a cat, but what if there was more than one way to put your mind at rest about your teenager? There’s realistically no solving the universal stomping upstairs problem, but there is one thing you can do to alleviate stress: get them insured.

For parents nationwide, the thought of sending even capable teenagers away from home into the grown up world of university and beyond might feel scary. Even if they have boarded at school, the transition to university is stark. At school, if they lost their phone, or broke their laptop, a helpful houseparent would ring you up. At university, your teen is out on their own.

But help is on hand: for not too much cash – far less than those school fees – it’s possible to insure your teen and, at the same time,

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guarantee your own peace of mind.

If your child is like most of his or her peers, they may well be glued to an electronic device, be it a phone, tablet or laptop, possibly even as you’re trying to read this out to them. Alas, none of these items are indestructible, whatever your child tells you.

Gadget insurance is the key. James Hall, a father of two 18-yearolds from Warwickshire, explains that buying a family gadget insurance policy was the best thing he ever did. ‘Our policy covers accidental damage for phones, laptops, computers, all electronics and you can nominate as many different gadgets as you like,’ he says. ‘The kids are bound to break stuff and, of course, the thing we’ve claimed for twice is Edward’s phone.’ While MoneySupermarket says that 65 per cent of Brits don’t have gadget insurance, Protect My Bubble has tech plans from £7.99 a month,

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Eleanor Doughty has a few suggestions on how to insure your teenager against life’s mishaps

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INSURANCE | SCHOOL LEAVER

PICK YOUR POLICY GADGET INSURANCE Endsleigh endsleigh.co.uk Protect Your Bubble protectyourbubble.com Back Me Up backmeup.co.uk help u cover helpucover.co.uk In-My-Bag inmybag.co CAR INSURANCE ingenie ingenie.com Marmalade wearemarmalade.co.uk Go Girl gogirl.co.uk 4 Young Drivers 4youngdrivers.co.uk Admiral admiral.com TRAVEL INSURANCE STA Travel statravel.co.uk Insure-and-go insureandgo.com Post Office postoffice.co.uk Churchill churchill.com Virgin Money UK uk.virginmoney.com ABOVE: Gadget insurance is available specifically for teenagers and students BELOW: A black box installed in a young person’s car can bring down the price of insurance

HEALTH INSURANCE AND HEALTH PLANS Aviva aviva.co.uk SimplyHealth simplyhealth.co.uk Denplan denplan.co.uk Bupa bupa.co.uk AXA axa.co.uk

while helpucover.co.uk offers multiple gadget insurance from £14.99 a month.

Not all of these offers are marketed directly at students and teenagers. Endsleigh, part of the Zurich group, was founded by the National Union of Students (NUS) in 1965, specifically to provide affordable insurance services for young people. The company works closely with the NUS to tailor-make the right policies for student life. ‘We aim to understand the specific things that students value,’ spokeswoman Julia Alpan says. ‘When it comes to gadgets, we know that a lot of the damage that happens is accidental. As a result we have accidental damage as standard in our policies – that means it might not always be the cheapest, but it is the best value for money.’ The company also offers tenants’ insurance, both for students living in rented accommodation, and for graduates in the years before they are able to get on the housing ladder. This is all about ‘trying to understand the specific needs of the young people,’ says Alpan.

Endsleigh has also joined the ranks of the many companies providing both ‘young driver’ insurance and cover for students. Young Marmalade offers car insurance for a range of set ups: for learner drivers, students and young drivers, some of whom might require a telematics (black box) system in their first year or two of driving to bring down the price. The company also offers a car purchase scheme, in which young drivers pay a deposit before driving away.

Free insurance for 12 months is an added perk in several postcodes.

Ingenie only insures 17-25-year-olds, says CEO Mike Ketteringham, ‘the majority of them being brand new drivers’. It’s important, he says, for young people to have a plan tailored to their age group. ‘We have to communicate in a way they get, which is very different from how their parents will have engaged with their insurer: probably once a year, at renewal. We talk to our drivers constantly, asking for their opinions.’

Ingenie drivers save on average £400 when they insure with the company, Ketteringham adds.

As gap years loom and university holiday trips

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‘At school, if they lost their phone, or broke their laptop, a helpful houseparent would ring you up.

At university, your teen is out on their own.’

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SCHOOL LEAVER | INSURANCE

with pals begin to look more appealing, it is also worth considering your teen’s own travel insurance package – or rather, it is worth them considering their own. Another parent has made sure both of his adventurous children, one of whom is at university, and the other at sixth form, have their own annual travel insurance policies for their trips abroad. ‘Increasingly, they are wanting to go away without us.’

Distance, even if it’s just away from home, and the comfort of a family doctor and dentist, has an impact too. Healthcare, even in the UK, can prove a headache as children get older. While UK students have access to NHS healthcare and dental services while at university, to save worrisome evenings when a teen has toothache 200 miles away, some families opt for private health plans for greater

flexibility. One 20-something praises her mother’s decision to sign her up to Denplan, a dental payment plan provider with over two million customers, including some independent schools, nationwide. The service means that should she ever have a problem with a rogue wisdom tooth, and need a dentist sharpish, she can ring up and find a local practice stress-free. As for life insurance, there’s no point, he says: ‘you only need it when you’re single if you’re getting a mortgage. It’s not for teens, really, is it?’

For some parents and their children, these extra funds paid out every month may seem to be a waste of money for something that may not happen. But like breakdown cover on your car, insurance of any kind brings peace of mind and that’s priceless. n

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Travel insurance is a must for those embarking on gap years

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SCHOOL HOUSE PARTNERSHIP

GAME CHANGER Andrea Freeman is the Principal of Oxford Media & Business School a small private business college in the centre of Oxford

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ridging the gap between school or university and getting a job can seem like a leap of faith. But it needn’t be. Here at OMBS we provide all the skills that we know employers are looking for.

Students are prepared to succeed in the business world

Learning vital skills In just 9 months OMBS will give you the skills you need to impress your new employer – as one employer encapsulates, ‘Tiffany thoroughly impressed me with all that she had learnt at OMBS and was an asset from day one’. Nigel

earning a great salary is the norm for OMBS graduates. Current OMBS graduate salaries range from £20,000 to £27,000 in central London.

Studying and living in Oxford is an amazing experience Being here is fun. Most of our students live in one of our houses, experiencing the Oxford student lifestyle and all that it has to offer.

Opening doors Such is the reputation of OMBS that having our name on your CV gives you opportunities that others miss out on. We ensure that you have an authoritative CV that helps you stand out from the competition. Time and again we hear of OMBS graduates who get to interview because our name is on their CV.

Post-graduation Once you graduate we help you find your first job and the next and the one after that, if you wish. Such is our reputation, employers and agents come to us first. Our understanding of our students helps us make the best job/ graduate match. Getting that first job and

What our alumni are saying about us ‘There are so many things that I learnt at OMBS that helps me on a day to day basis that I didn’t even realise would – thank you OMBS as I just wouldn’t have got this job without you’ Client Relationship Manager – Property ‘Thank you to everyone at OMBS for teaching me essential skills which have given me the opportunities to find a job within a matter of weeks after returning home ‘ Personal Assistant - Finance ‘I just want to say thank you to all of you at OMBS as without you all I would never have managed to get the job I have’ Executive Principal, Andrea Freeman, has Assistant – Harley Street, London contacts at recruitment agencies ‘I wish all the girls so much luck, tell them how amazing the course is and how it will help them so much, it was by far the best year of my life and I absolutely love my job’ Personal Assistant – Property ‘Before I went to OMBS I had no idea what I wanted to do, now I have focus, direction and a great job – thank you OMBS’ Executive Assistant – Charity

What a recruitment agency says about us ‘OMBS students are head and shoulders above their peers and our clients now specifically ask for these high calibre candidates’ Bain and Gray Recruitment

It’s your future and you need to research different options

Students enjoy the university lifestyle while studying at OMBS

To decide if OMBS is the right choice for you, come and visit us.

To find out more, phone 01865 240963 to arrange a meeting with Andrea Freeman, Principal, for an informal chat. For further information visit www.oxfordbusiness.co.uk

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PA RENTS PROPERTY | A DVICE

| TR AVEL | A PPS | BOOKS

Forte Village, Sardinia

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HOLIDAYS | PARENTS

SCHOOL’S OUT It’s time to play!

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WHAT’S ON Easter Holidays

REVISION TOOLS Noise-cancelling headphones block out unwanted background noise when listening to revision playlists. Philips SHB8850NC wireless Bluetooth headphones £89.99. currys.co.uk

EGGSCELLENT Hunt for Easter eggs at the imposing Tudor stately home, Burghley House, Lincolnshire. burghley.co.uk

SPRING DIVERSIONS

Plant and nurture your own Venus flytrap for the desk. £10. urbanoutfitters.com

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1 City break in Amsterdam. There is plenty to see. Hotel V Fizeaustraat is a family friendly design hotel close to Amstel station. From € 119 per night. hotelvfizeaustraat.nl/en 2 Staycation in Norfolk. Rent a cottage from Barefoot Retreats, bring your dog and bikes. From £350 per week. barefootretreats.co.uk 3 Skiing in Obergurgul, Austria.

The Bergwelt Hotel is full of alpine charm and Obergurgul is perfect for families with its gentle, well-groomed slopes. From € 594 2 per week. hotelbergwelt.com

CHOO CHOO The Festival of Steam and Transport at The Historic Dockyard, Chatham, Kent. 1-2 April. thedockyard.co.uk

SUN IN MOROCCO Let Activities Abroad take the reins and enjoy a camel trek, souk visit, surfing lesson and a day in the Atlas Mountains. From £2,545 for one adult and one child for a week, including flights, transfers, accommodation, meals and activities. activitiesabroad.com

A seven-day chalkboard organiser is a great way to plan revision and study breaks. £26. notonthehighstreet.com

REVISION COURSES AND TUTORS Oppidan Education offers a fresh approach to learning. oppidaneducation.com Mander Portman Woodward (MPW) A-level and GCSE revision courses. 3 - 21 April. mpw.co.uk Ashbourne College Easter revision courses.

March 26 - April 13. ashbournecollege.co.uk Gordonstoun Active Revision Course combines teaching with brain-boosting activities.

April 7 - 13. activerevision.org.uk

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SUMMER HOLIDAY FUN 1 A giant jenga tower to amuse the family for hours, £52.99. jaqueslondon.co.uk 2 The perfect piece of kit for budding cricketers. Crazy Catch Wild Child Classic Net, £108.34. crazycatch.com 3 Find hidden treasure with KKmoon Children’s Metal Detector, £45.99. tomtop.com

DEN BUILDING At Barrington Court, Somerset on 27 March and 5 April. nationaltrust.org.uk

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CHARITY

SPONSOR A CHILD St George’s School in Ethiopia educates 300 children through sponsorship. It was established by the parents and staff of Broomwood Hall School, London who wanted to build a school that improves the life chances and inspires positive, longterm social change for some of the poorest

children in Ethiopia. With funds needed to provide for the school’s running costs as well as to continue its development, every donation, whether by way of child sponsorship or a cash sum, counts hugely towards giving a deprived child the chance to transform their life through education.

To donate or sponsor please go to www.broomwoodinethiopia.com

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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 September 2018 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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TEENAGE BOUNDARIES | PARENTS

ON THE SOFA

Victoria Lambert talks to psychotherapist and relationship expert, Jennie Miller, about providing boundaries for teenagers Hold the reins with a looser hand when it comes to teenagers

eeping your child safe and secure can be relatively easy in prep school, but when they move up their behaviour can change quite quickly. Early boundaries – those lines we draw which build into a supportive, protective code of behaviour, define bedtimes, eating habits, use of technology, and how much time our children spend being active.

‘At this stage, other parents will support your boundaries,’ says Jennie Miller, author of new self-help book Boundaries – How to Draw the Line in Head, Heart and Home. ‘We all want happy, healthy children.’

But, she warns, in senior school, new friends and social media expose them to outside influences at a time when they are changing physically and emotionally. ‘Parents cannot always be there to help them manage their boundaries,’ she says, ‘nor can they expect [day] schools to police their children’s behaviour.’

It is a confusing time for teenagers and their parents: ‘You don’t want your child to be the odd one out with overly strict rules, but equally, it is reasonable to be concerned if a child is talking about going to parties and sleepovers when you don’t know the parents involved.’

The key lies in keeping communication open. ‘You are still the caretaker of their boundaries but as they get older you need to hold the reins with a looser hand. Teach them to build and maintain their own standards rather than just following your orders.

‘At times you will have to risk being unpopular with your child,’ Miller points out, ‘when your adolescent doesn’t understand why they can’t go to an all-night party, for example. But I’ve worked with many grown-ups who talk of being the “cool kid” at school, someone who had no rules or boundaries, and how they associate those feelings now with not having a sense of security – even as an adult. Parental boundaries

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are also important for their future wellbeing.

‘One of the biggest gifts you can give your child is the ability to say no, without needing to explain why. Many struggle to turn down something like that first cigarette because they don’t know how to refuse without losing face.

Teach them that “no” is a complete sentence.’

Youthful relationships are a prime concern.

‘It is important for parents not to pry too much. You may want to know what is going on but your child can clam up like an oyster.

‘If you think a relationship is becoming intimate, help them build boundaries by discussing the age of consent [16], what consent means, how to respect their own body and others’, and talk about contraception.

‘Don’t lay down the law on drugs and alcohol,’ says Miller. ‘Talk about why they feel a need to join in and discuss what impact their behaviour may have on their future: could they be expelled? Will it damage their health?

The decision to say no needs to come from your child, not you. Help them understand.’

It’s important, she suggests, for boarders in particular to learn to prioritise self-care; not being selfish, but learning self-respect.

Teach children to measure their success against themselves, says Miller. ‘The best sprinter doesn’t watch others – they focus on what they can do and run the best race for themselves.’

Boundaries – How to Draw the Line in Head, Heart and Home by Jennie Miller and Victoria Lambert.

HarperCollins, £12.99

ADVICE HOME TRUTHS Don’t be weak and grateful when your young boarder comes home for an exeat. This is the time boundaries are most crucial.

Keeping manners, meals and bedtimes consistent will reassure them while building up an internal ‘muscle memory’ of how to behave when they go back to school.

EXERCISE THE 5/5 PLAN Sit down with your adolescent and write down, without discussion, five things you would each like to happen for yourself in the next five years.

Think big, think small, think all. Take it in turns to talk through each item on your lists. You may be surprised at what is important to your teenager which they may not have articulated before.

This is a good chance to check whether they are going down a path which has been preordained by you, them, or school and whether they are happy. Don’t be afraid to make changes.

The key lies in keeping communication open

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PARENTS | READING

BOOKS & APPS Classics, cookery and fostering a fascination for the past

COOKERY BOOKS

EMBRACING DYSLEXIA

Must-haves for wannabe master chefs

Books tackling learning difficulties for all ages

HOORAY FOR HISTORY Fascinating tales stimulate a passion for the past

CLASSICS FOR KIDS

Start them young with tried and tested stories

APPS OF INTEREST Emile University education specialists developed an online portal for 200 games referencing the national curriculum.

iGotThis Task-focused solutions for ADHD families to improve efficiency and self-esteem.

AGES 3+ What’s Cooking?

by Joshua David Stein Creating excitement and wonder around the subject of food. £12.95, Phaidon

AGES 8+ Dyslexia is my Superpower

by Margaret Rooke Interviews with children and adults living with dyslexia. £12.99, Jessica Kingsley Publishers

AGES 7+ Great British Bake Off: Learn to Bake

by Linda Collister Explains baking terms and incudes 80 recipes. £22, BBC Books

AGES 5+ I Don’t Like Reading by Lisabeth Emlyn Clark Harry learns strategies for reading with dyslexia. £9.99, Jessica Kingsley Publishers

AGES 13+ Nosh for Students

by Joy May A must-have for anyone heading off to university with no cookery skills.

This fourth edition gets students in the kitchen. £8.99, inTRADE

AGES 13+ The Self-Help Guide for Teens with Dyslexia

by Alais Winton Tried and tested techniques, ideal for exam-time. £9.99, Jessica Kingsley Publishers

AGES 10+ The History Sphere

by Katy Chalk Debunking the myth that history is boring, irrelevant and difficult. £8.99, Kathy Elkins AGES 7+ A Child Through Time

by Phil Wilkinson Find out what life was like for children living in different eras. £14.99, DK Children AGES 13+ Remembrance

by Theresa Breslin With 2018 marking the WWI centenary, learn about the war through the eyes of a group of teenagers. £7.99, Corgi Children’s

AGES 6+ Where’s Jane?

by Rebecca Smith Jane Austen’s works and their world for kids. £9.99 Ivy Kids AGES 7+ The Shakespeare Stories Collection

by Andrew Matthews & Tony Ross Shakespeare’s most popular plays retold. £10.15 Hachette Children’s Books

Crayola ColorStudio HD Turns iScreens into drawing pads.

iMindMap Kids Mind-mapping encourages children to learn creatively.

AGES 9+ Rudyard Kipling’s Just So Stories retold by Eli Woollard A younger approach to the much-loved classic. £14.99 Macmillan Children’s Books

BeePopulate

SCHOOL HOUSE REVIEWS AGES 5+

AGES 9+

AGES 14+

Book of Bones

Laura Marlin Mysteries: The Secret of Supernatural Creek

How to Stay Alive: The Ultimate Survival Guide For Any Situation

On a school trip to Australia Laura’s hopes of relaxing are dashed when a supernatural message puts her on highalert. The Outback is a place of extremes after all. £6.99, Orion Children’s Books

From how to survive a bear attack and a burning building, to driving off-road and how to fly a plane, this book covers it all and comes from the ultimate authority on the subject. £20, Bantam Press

by Gabrielle Balkan Perfect for young inquisitive minds who love animals and history. A guessing game with touch-and-feel skeleton illustrations that bring to life the creatures they belong to while offering amazing facts about how the animal swims, flies or runs. £16.95, Phaidon

by Lauren St John

by Bear Grylls

Fun learning about bees and their vital role in our eco-system.

ONE FOR THE PARENTS The Fourth Education Revolution

by Sir Anthony Seldon Former headmaster of Wellington College, Berkshire, on artificial intelligence in the educational sector. £14.99, University of Buckingham Press

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SCHOOL HOUSE PARTNERSHIP

Handcross Park School. There is an on-site swimming pool, tennis courts, an incredible newly built all-weather pitch, and their very own golf course.

Their academic results speak for themselves. Over half of pupils gain scholarships to Brighton College and other top independent senior schools. Academic success and innovation are at the heart of a Handcross Park education and they ensure Handcross Park offers exceptional boarding facilities that every pupil has reached their full potential when they move on at age 13. As The Good Schools Guide recently put it, ‘It’s an academically challenging school… the That’s why they don’t do Saturdays at this boarding school teachers are very inspiring’.

In the evenings your re you despairing over gaining child will be safe and happy a place for your child at an in the warm and friendly oversubscribed London day environment of the boarding school? Worried about how much time house, under the expert your child will spend indoors, in a busy care of the boarding-house urban environment? Are you wishing parents. They’ll eat delicious there was an alternative? meals, prepared by the Handcross Park School is a magical wonderful catering team. alternative to the urban prep school.

Prep is supervised, and expert Situated in the beautiful Sussex countryside, advice is always on hand Handcross Park is a co-educational day when assistance is required. and boarding school for children aged 2-13.

There is time to relax before It is part of the Brighton College family of retiring to their dormitories, schools, and pupils move on to Brighton which were recently College or other top independent senior described by Tatler as ‘some schools. There is no Saturday school, so of the nicest dorms we have weekly boarders return home on a Friday seen’. afternoon, ready to spend a fun-filled The good manners and weekend with their family. confidence of the pupils must Plenty of open-space Imagine if on a Monday morning your be seen to be believed. So for children to play child could be collected and driven to beautifully put by the team at Sussex, under the careful watch of talented The Good Schools staff. Imagine if they could spend the week Guide: ‘You just can’t fully engaged in a packed curriculum of resist the happiness activities. Everything from Mandarin to of this place’. music is taught by an exceptional team of Finally, imagine teachers, who do everything possible to your child delivered ensure children reach their full potential. safely back to you Imagine if much of your child’s learning each Friday evening, didn’t take place in the classroom, if classes their mind filled with were held in small groups in our purposeknowledge, wonder built outdoor classroom or on-site forest and confidence, and school? Imagine if they could spend their lungs filled with playtimes in acres of open countryside, fresh country air: all free to run and explore, or fly down an ready for wonderful, Many pupils leave Handcross with impressive zipwire. If sport is their thing, precious weekends scholarships to their senior schools then it really doesn’t get better than with their family.

WEEKENDS ARE PRECIOUS

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FUN IN NUMBERS Anna Tyzack finds that sharing university digs is the best way to counteract loneliness

ABOVE & RIGHT: Communal facilities in shared student accomodation tackles loneliness

niversity can be the best time of your life but it can also be very lonely. You are part of a ready-made crowd, yet students can quickly feel isolated if there aren’t enough opportunities to break the ice with your cohort.

Research shows that more than 44 per cent of students struggle with isolation at some stage during their university career.

According to Simon Gray of luxury student accommodation provider, Collegiate AC, many are overwhelmed by the responsibilities that accompany leaving home, and the pressure to define themselves and map out their future. ‘The fact that classes are so large only makes things worse,’ explains Gray. ‘If they don’t find respite from the loneliness, mental health as well as confidence can be harmed.’

Therefore where you live while at university is fundamental to your wellbeing. Collegiate AC’s schemes, which are popular with first year students, have large bedrooms, with desks, beanbag sofas and kitchens with ovens as well as communal facilities where students can socialise when they’re not working. ‘From gyms, dinner-party rooms and cinema rooms where we host movie nights, to libraries, study rooms, reception and common rooms, we provide an active community. If students can dip in and out of events in their own home, they feel much more supported.”

According to Frank Webster of Finders Keepers letting agency in

Oxford, the loneliness of student accommodation is why so many students opt to live in the private rented sector after their first year.

Shared houses are also more characterful and convivial. ‘Students appreciate the way these houses have a pub and local shop around the corner. It’s much easier to bond with your friends in a shared house than in a new development – you can get a barbecue in the garden and invite people over to enjoy it with you. It’s more intimate.’

Every year students camp out outside his offices in Oxford to secure their student houses for the following year. ‘We always put signs in the window saying there is no need to queue but there’s always a line outside the door when I get to work,’ he says.

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PROPERTY | PARENTS

Their appetite for a student house proves, he says, what a good investment student housing is. ‘These young people have the option to live in accommodation offered by the university, but they prefer to move in to the private rented sector.’

Even post-Brexit student property offers a degree of certainty that other buy-to-let investments can’t match, Webster maintains. ‘You can cover the cost of your child’s university accommodation by renting out additional rooms – and at the same time ensuring they live in a community of friends.’

In Oxford, parents pay around £450 to £550 per month for their child’s room. ‘If you buy in the right place, you have a guaranteed income and your tenants confirmed at least eight months in advance. What other investment gives you that kind of security?’

Prices in the UK’s top 50 university towns have risen more than 27 per cent in the past three years and recent research by Savills suggests that the appetite for investing in student housing has only increased since the referendum. ‘We saw over £2.1 billion transacted after the referendum, compared to £1.9 billion earlier in the year,’ Jacqui Daly, Savills’ research director, explains.

With the average rent for student digs now at £5,200 per year – 95 per cent of the maximum student loan – keeping costs down is more critical than ever. Yields from student housing have, so far, stayed consistent since Brexit (around eight per cent), yet house prices have softened slightly, opening up the market to parent investors.

If a property is going to offset your child’s rent, however, you need more than one bedroom – this is why traditional freehold student houses are more appealing to parent investors than new-build studios. The more bedrooms you can afford, the better, according to Stuart Law of Assetz, a property investment specialists, as you can effectively charge per room, with occupants sharing living space, bathrooms and kitchens.

Collegiate AC provides luxury student accommodation with communal areas

There are some down sides to owning a student house, of course: wear and tear; slow rental growth; tensions between house mates. Plus, not all university towns are equal in terms of price growth and rental yield. ‘Be sure to invest in a city with high occupancy levels, strong rents and good prospects for rental growth,’ warns Daly. Exeter, Guildford and Leeds are good bets, she continues, along with Bristol, Edinburgh and Oxford, while cities such as Liverpool and Plymouth are currently a less attractive proposition due to an oversupply of student property at present. ‘Be sure to buy as centrally as you can, near shops and bars and the university,’ Webster adds. ‘Students are reluctant to use public transport.’

On the whole, though, student housing is a relatively low maintenance investment – that can make all the difference to your child’s university experience. Many of the Finders Keepers landlords are parents who have kept on their student house long after their child has graduated. ‘Once your own child has left, you can start targeting post-graduates,’ Webster says. ‘They’re past the partying all night phase but pay the same rent.’ n

RULES FOR INVESTING BEFORE INVESTING Before investing, check with the local authority about the rules for student renting. Renting property to more than two people might need an HM0 license. For more information , visit hmo.org.uk DON’T ...

Don’t go for the most attractive house you find. It’s what’s on the inside counts when it comes to students (don’t even think about furnishing it with granny’s surplus kit).

STUDENTS Students will bring their own bedding but they expect a double oven, dishwasher, washer dryer and a double bedroom and desk in each room.

PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES

TAKE THE PRESURE OFF By using a managing agent, laying out sensible ground rules and liaising with the other parents.

In Oxford, students camp outside letting agents’ offices to secure their student houses for the next academic year

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ONE STOP HOLIDAY Annabel Heseltine road-tested Forte Village in Sardinia but it was the academies that sold it to the kids

hen Roman Abramovitch brought his family to stay at the Forte Village in southwest Sardinia in 2007, as a parting gift he left behind a golden egg which has given this extraordinary one-stop holiday destination a unique flavour unmatched anywhere else in the world. He suggested that they might like to start a Chelsea soccer school and offered to supply the trainers. Forte invested in the facilities and a marriage was made in paradise.

There was little that the Forte empire didn’t already know about hoteliering, but now the exquisite 40-acre site which has recently been remodelled, bringing it from the mass to the high-end luxury market, with nine four- and five-star hotels and nine villas with a starting price of € 30,000 a week, has found the key to the ultimate family holiday. While hordes of competitive little alpha boys can spend all day kicking around a football, their parents can relax on

W

the beach, in the spa or in one of the 25 restaurants, including a Gordon Ramsay and a Schubeck.

But it gets better because the footballing coaches are the stars of yesterday and while Forte started with one academy, there are now over ten available, catering for all tastes and groups; girls, teenagers, fledglings of five and six. Very sensibly there are a few academies for the non-sporty too, like magic and chess.

‘We learned a lot from the table tennis, and saw how important it is to have things which are not full sport.

We saw a grandfather come in with his grandson, and couples, husbands and wives. From there the ideas for different sports and hobbies took off,’ says Angelo Gianuzzi, director of service and leisure.

Last year aspiring ballerinas were being tutored by the etoile of Paris, the ballet dancer Roberto Bolle.

Some academies change annually but every spring and summer, adults and children can take their pick from a variety, whether it’s aerial dance or trapeze, how to

ABOVE: The Forte Village is situated on the Italian island of Sardinia RIGHT: The resort offers a host of activities, from go-karting to sports coaching

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ACADEMIES | PARENTS

turn a magic trick with Marvin, being coached by Ile Nastase on the tennis court, by Will Greenwood on the rugby pitch or by Massimiliano Rosolino in the swimming pool. Fathers and sons can train with boxing champion Frank Buglioni and budding film directors might enjoy the two-hour daily sessions with members of the British Film Institute. There’s chess, go-karting, bowling, table tennis, ‘and fencing is on the cards’, says Gianuzzi, who adds that at any one time there might be up to 400 children involved in the academies.

‘What is unique is that the football pitch is at the heart of the resort. And what we have found is that something we created to give children fun while on holiday has become the main attraction, with parents choosing to come here because of the academies.’

Academies were essentially inherited from the American concept of the summer camp but, for the Europeans who have never quite embraced the idea of sending their kids away for three to four weeks, Forte provides the perfect compromise of how to make sure that you and your children all enjoy your summer

holiday, which as any honest parent will attest to, is no mean feat.

I took my children there for a week to find out how it worked. My children are not football-mad and I wasn’t sure how three teenagers would adapt to the academy lifestyle. One of them is a lacrosse goalie and another competes for his school in the 1,500 metres, but none of them are sports stars at heart.

They were, however, keen to improve their fitness skills so in stepped Ruben Tabares, international 400 metre hurdler, to improve their strength and fitness technique. Twice a day they worked out with him, learning how to run correctly, honing their hand-eye coordination and working on life fitness goals.

Turfing three teenagers out of bed on the first morning was hard but I soon noticed that in spite of the odd complaint about hard work and hot sun, they got more and more into the spirit as the week progressed, taking on the responsibility of turning up on time themselves. In the early evening Ruben took them down to the beach and used the sea to train their bodies.

Forte has not forgotten the teenagers;

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ABOVE: At any time there can be up to 400 children involved in the resort’s academies RIGHT: International athletes are called in to coach guests

‘we keep them wanting to go on holidays with their parents for a couple of years longer,’ explained Gianuzzi, who is confident that the academies are well supported by a popular teen nightclub and plenty of swimming pools, so that teenagers can separate themselves from their parents in an amicable manner.

Forte Village is a one-stop holiday. It says much that your car is removed on arrival and you are unlikely to want to see it again for the entire period of your stay.

Why would you want to when you can wander through 40 acres of pine trees, are entertained by music in open-air arenas, can slip into swimming pools, spas or just lie on the beach and do nothing at all, confident that your children are being looked after by fun, enthusiastic and extremely qualified coaches?

It’s so well laid-out that although the village is almost completely full, with 95 per cent occupancy, 800 bedrooms and 1,500 guests, 65 per cent of whom are returning visitors, it never feels full or even crowded.

It took me 48 hours to get on top of it and even then, by the end of the week I was wishing for another to put into practice everything I had learned the first week.

The incredible spa with its seven thalasso pools alone would draw me back, and of which I took full advantage while the children were doing their academies.

And I kept on discovering discreet little treasures like London’s Mahiki cocktail bar serving sushi and

FACT BOX Rooms at Forte Village start from €945 per night, based on two adults and two children per Deluxe Family Bungalow on a halfboard basis. +39 070 921 8818; fortevillage resort.com

cocktails, tucked away in a Caribbean tropical hiding place. Everything is tucked away. This is not the place to come to see and be seen, but to do and to relax.

Presidents, businessmen and politicians come here to be with their families, to wander around in peace, away from the paparazzi and to chill. Everything is laid on for you and the only challenge is to see how much of the entertainment you can enjoy before someone politely hands you an eye-wateringly large bill. This is not for shallow pockets but it’s worth every euro.

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SUMMER ACADEMIES From rowing in Berkshire to golfing in the Bahamas

GLENALMOND HOCKEY CAMPS

SAILING COURSE AT COWES

Enhances hockey skills with top-level coaching on an international standard waterbased astro turf pitch. Ages 10-17. 6 to 10 August. From £180.25 glenalmondcollege.co.uk

Learn to sail on the Isle of Wight, for all abilities and ages. There’s also kayaking, paddle boarding and raft building on offer. Five days. £420. uksa.org

MCC CRICKET ACADEMY AT LORD’S

ETON ROWING COURSE

HARLEQUINS RUGBY CAMP AT CHARTERHOUSE SCHOOL Each participant will eat, sleep and train like a Harlequin. Ages 12-17. 12 to 17 August. £650, rugbycamps.co.uk

PONY CAMP

Courses for all ages and abilities during term-time and the school holidays.

Ages 3-16. Varying lengths and prices. lords.org

Learn to row, or improve existing skills on the Thames and at the College’s rowing lake at Dorney. Ages 12-16. Six days, £800. etonrowingcourses.co.uk

Ride to your heart’s content at Wellington Riding, Hampshire. Flatwork, jumping, hacking, grooming and more. Residential and non-residential camps available. Ages 7-16. Six days. From £455, wellington-riding.co.uk

MARLBOROUGH COLLEGE SUMMER SCHOOL

HARLYN SURF SCHOOL SUMMER CAMP

WINDSOR HIGH SCHOOL ELITE ACADEMIES

From fly fishing to shooting and martial arts, this summer school has it all. Ages 13-17.

Varying prices. summerschool.co.uk

Offering both intro and improver camps, learn beach safety and how to negotiate the surf at this Cornish camp. Ages 8-16.

3 or 5 days. From £110. harlynsurfschool.co.uk

The Bahamas offer a warmer option for tennis, golf and football camps coached by leading professionals. Price upon request. windsorhighschoolatalbany.com

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Putney High School GDST, London

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A LEGAL STAR

Sandie Okoro, Senior Vice President and General Counsel of the World Bank Group, remembers her days when she was a punk rocker in purple uniform at Putney High School GDST It was a time of great rebellion. I was usually late for school was born and raised in Balham, South London. My because I was busy planning weekend marches and political father was a teacher and my mother a nurse, and they protests with my best friend, Fran. We were regularly in trouble both valued education very highly. I joined Putney for sticking anti-apartheid stickers all over the school, although High School in 1978 in the second term of the first I think that the teachers found it quite amusing and were secretly year. Having started out at another, less academic pleased we were taking an interest school, I hadn’t thought I was clever in the outside world. I learnt from enough for Putney High, so getting those days at Putney High that in was a bit like winning Strictly my voice was just as important Come Dancing and my first lesson as anyone else’s. I always wanted in not underestimating myself. to be a lawyer and help others I was the only black girl in the fight for their rights and to this school for many years but it was day, my passion is to make the never something I felt awkward world a fairer place. about – there was no bullying or At school, you were either racism. I wasn’t a great student in a skinhead, a punk or a New terms of wanting to do my homework Romantic back then and I fell and getting good grades, but I had firmly into the punk category. great curiosity and devoured books, We were always modifying our something I still do now. school uniform which was purple, My love of literature came from a colour I hated; we shortened my fabulous English teachers, Miss our skirts and wore Doc Martens.

Dampier, Miss Sackett and the I always wore a skull somewhere indomitable Mrs Raphael. Miss (something I still do to this day) Sackett had a unique way of bringing and I remember one hilarious Shakespeare to life. It was one line day when Amanda came into of Shakespeare followed by ten school with pink hair and her minutes about her childhood during mother was summoned for the Blitz and buying stockings from a meeting with the headmistress. a handsome spiv in Camden market!

Amanda’s mum arrived with pink In 2014 I was made a board member hair as well, something that we all of the Royal Shakespeare Company, loved her for. a dream come true. I have Miss Putney High was never for one Sackett to thank for instilling in me type of girl. Yes, it was academic, a love of the Bard all those years ago. but it was also for the curious, My other favourite was history the iconoclast, the creative and with Mrs Berner. There is very Putney was never for one type of girl. for girls who wanted to change little about life that history doesn’t Yes it was academic, but it was also the world (moi!). My PHS friends teach us. I still dream of going for the curious, the iconoclast, the haven’t changed; they still have the to Cambridge University one day creative, and for girls who wanted same cracking sense of humour, to do a masters in the subject. the same warmth and not one Dance was a guilty pleasure of to change the world of them takes themselves seriously mine. One year my friend Hannah even though they have all gone and I choreographed a piece for on to do amazing things. the Lewisham Dance Festival to a mixed tape of BBC What I did get from those marvellous classrooms and sound effects. Our theme was Wilfred Owen’s Dulce et Decorum dusty hallways of PHS was my love of learning, my questioning Est, about the First World War. I admit we fancied ourselves a bit and I’m pretty sure nobody had a clue what we were doing up there of the status quo, my curious nature, and my dislike of wearing anything purple! on stage, but we enjoyed ourselves.

I

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LONDON SCHOOLS NURSERY | PREPA R ATORY | SENIOR

Eaton House Belgravia Pre-Prep

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Bassett House School

ADDRESS: 60 Bassett Road, London W10 6JP WEBSITE: www.bassetths.org.uk FOUNDED: 1947 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 190+ AGES: 3–11 FEES: £2,840 - £5,920 per term HEADMISTRESS: Mrs Philippa Cawthorne MA (Soton) PGCE RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Non-selective at nursery and reception stages, thereafter by assessment.

CONTACT: Thalia Demetriades, Registrar, 020 8969 0313, registrar@bassetths.org.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Open Afternoon: Friday 2 March GAMES & THE ARTS: There are specialist PE teachers and extensive facilities for sport including the school’s own gym and Kensington Memorial Park, within easy walking distance of the school. Art and music are taught to a very high standard by specialist teachers and the children are able to develop their skills in a variety of different artistic media and develop a passion for music and performance. Children enjoy singing or playing their instruments in concerts and drama productions which are held regularly on a purpose built stage. The school is equipped with the latest technology, including laptops and iPads, which are used regularly in class and during computing lessons with a specialist teacher.

SENIOR EXIT SCHOOLS: Latymer Upper, Godolphin and Latymer, City of London School (for boys), City of London School for Girls, Notting Hill and Ealing, Francis Holland Regent’s Park, Francis Holland Sloane Square, Queen’s College, Queen’s Gate, The Harrodian, Kew House, St Mary’s Ascot and Woldingham.

RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Latymer Upper, Emanuel School, Frensham Heights, Queen’s College, City of London School for Girls and North Bridge House.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: Each child’s formative years are crucial; children should enjoy school and be able to develop skills in many different areas. Bassett House is characterised by its warm and nurturing atmosphere, in which every child feels secure and is challenged to build a firm educational foundation. Every child is encouraged to be inquisitive about the world and to develop a life-long love for learning.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: – Our pupils: cheerful and confident learners, who enjoy the opportunity to excel in whichever areas they show promise. Treated with warmth, friendship and respect.

– Highly professional and committed staff. Excellent staff to pupil ratio, backed up by specialist teachers. Special needs spotted quickly and addressed. Low staff turnover.

– First class facilities, very well equipped with top IT technology to support the curriculum where needed.

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Broomwood Hall

Northcote Lodge

ADDRESS: Lower: 3 Garrad’s Road, 192 Ramsden Road & 50 Nightingale Lane. Upper: 68-74 Nightingale Lane, London SW12 8NR WEBSITE: www.broomwood.co.uk FOUNDED: 1984 NUMBER OF PUPILS: Lower School (Co-ed Pre-Prep), 425; Upper School (Girls Prep), 242 AGES: Lower School 4-8, Upper School 8-13 HEAD TEACHER: Mrs Carole Jenkinson FEES: Pre-prep: £5,125, Prep: £6,295 RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Christian. But all faiths are welcome ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Lower School: catchment area, visit and random ballot. Upper School: automatic entry for girls from Lower School, external by assessment.

CONTACT: Susannah Lloyd, Registrar, 020 8682 8830 EMAIL: admissions@northwoodschools.com SCHOOL VISITS: Lower School open mornings: Ramsden Rd 7 March; Garrad’s Rd 15 March. Both 9-10.15am

ADDRESS: 26 Bolingbroke Grove, London SW11 6EL WEBSITE: www.northcotelodge.co.uk FOUNDED: 1993 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 246 AGES: 8-13 FEES: £6,295. Fees are inclusive of all tuition, lunch, school day trips and most school books & equipment HEAD TEACHER: Mark Smith RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Christian but all faiths are welcome ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Automatic entry for boys from Broomwood Hall Lower School if they joined in Reception or Year 1.

Preferential entry for younger siblings of Northcote Lodge or Broomwood Hall pupils (subject to assessment).. External candidates – assessment in Year 3 (prior to entry in Year 4) CONTACT: Susannah Lloyd, Registrar, 020 8682 8830 EMAIL: admissions@northwoodschools.com SCHOOL VISITS: 19 May 9-10.30am. Booking is preferable.

THE CURRICULUM: A broad and stimulating curriculum, with technology used at every level, fosters a love of learning, bolsters self-confidence, creativity and critical thinking, helping children to maximise their potential.

THE CURRICULUM: Boys thrive in our ‘country prep school’ environment which nurtures and develops individual strengths whilst preparing them for entry to top public schools – both day and boarding – at 13+.

GAMES & THE ARTS: Sport and the arts are an important part of our curriculum and we offer a surprisingly wide variety. We place great value on creativity with exceptionally strong music, art and drama departments.

GAMES & THE ARTS: All boys play matches in the major sports and our teams are very competitive even against much bigger schools. A wide-ranging clubs programme includes karate, golf and shooting. Boys also have many opportunities to perform their music and drama.

PASTORAL CARE: We know that happy children thrive academically.

With small class sizes, an excellent tutor system and mindfulness and wellbeing programmes in the curriculum, we pride ourselves on nurturing the whole child and developing their strengths so that when they leave us at eight, 11 or 13, they are confident, happy, well-rounded individuals with a strong sense of purpose.

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 size and relaxed, country-feel of the school enables staff and boys to get to know each other well. Parent partnership is actively encouraged and the Headmaster’s door is always open.

SENIOR EXIT SCHOOLS: 8+ BH Upper School and Northcote Lodge; 11 & 13+ Benenden, Emanuel, Marlborough, Bradfield, JAGS, Streatham & Clapham High, Woldingham and Wellington.

SENIOR EXIT SCHOOLS: Mix of London day and boarding including Bradfield, Harrow, Marlborough, Dulwich, Whitgift, Emanuel, Eton, Tonbridge and Charterhouse.

RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: 25 per cent of leavers win awards.

RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Strong showing in all areas including academic, music, DT, drama.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: We prepare for life, not just the next school. Our focus is on the essential building blocks of creativity, critical thinking, resilience and confidence – all the benefits of a holistic education where everything is important and each child is supported and enabled to be and do their best.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: – Friendly, family-feel school - Winning combination of traditional values and innovative teaching - Firm believers in nurturing individual strengths to enable each child to shine - Fostering a love of learning and happy, confident children - Upper School is the only girls’ prep school preparing for 11+ & 13+ in SW London

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: We measure our success by how many boys look forward to coming to school every day. Our target is 100 per cent and I believe we achieve that most days. When a boy is happy to learn, he can achieve outstanding results both in and out of the classroom.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Northcote Lodge is a country prep school right in the heart of South West London – giving boys the advantages of a relaxed, nurturing learning environment without having to leave town.

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Chepstow House School

ADDRESS: 108A Lancaster Road, Notting Hill, London W11 1QS WEBSITE: www.chepstowhouseschool.co.uk FOUNDED: 2010 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 384 AGES: 2 – 13 years FEES: £6,590 per term HEAD TEACHER: Mrs Angela Barr RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Register from birth for nursery and reception intake. Informal assessment for 7, 8 &11+ entry CONTACT: Linda Farrow, School Administrator, 0207 243 0243 EMAIL: info@chepstowhouseschool.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: 13+ Information Evening 22 March. Open afternoon 13 June. Tours available on request.

THE CURRICULUM: A rigorous curriculum prepares children for 11+ and the 13+ Common 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.

PASTORAL CARE: 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.

SENIOR EXIT SCHOOLS: 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: • 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)

Chiswick & Bedford Park Preparatory School

ADDRESS: Priory House, Priory Avenue, London W4 1TX WEBSITE: www.cbppschool.co.uk FOUNDED: 1915 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 218 AGES: Boys 3–7, Girls 3–11 FEES: £4,425 per term HEAD TEACHER: Mrs Sally Daniell RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Non-selective. Registration and ballot.

CONTACT: 020 8994 1804 EMAIL: info@cbppschool.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: The head teacher will show around prospective parents by appointment. Please call the school office to arrange.

THE CURRICULUM: Broad, balanced and exciting education. Enriching and challenging activities encourage independent thinkers. Visual, auditory and kinaesthetic approaches provide for all learning styles.

Educational outings, workshops and visiting speakers make learning meaningful and fun.

GAMES & THE ARTS: Sports include netball, football, hockey, rounders, tennis, cricket, dance, gymnastics, swimming. Outstanding drama, dynamic art and vibrant music departments.

SENIOR EXIT SCHOOLS FOR THE LAST ACADEMIC YEAR: London days schools including Godolphin & Latymer School, Latymer Upper School, Notting Hill & Ealing High School, St Pauls Girls School, Latymer Prep School, St Paul’s Juniors and The Falcons School for Boys.

RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Francis Holland School (Graham Terrace), Godolphin & Latymer School, Ibstock Place School, Latymer Upper School, Notting Hill & Ealing High School, Putney High School, Queens College, St Pauls Girls School, St Benedict’s Senior School, The Falcons School for Boys.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: Enthusiastic and dedicated teachers motivate and inspire pupils, fostering within them a love of learning. Pupils build personal qualities of confidence, self-reliance and respect for others, in preparation for the challenges and opportunities of the modern world.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: • ‘An exciting curriculum provides memorable learning experiences for all pupils. Their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is promoted very effectively.’

• ‘Pupils’ personal development and welfare are outstanding. They leave the school well prepared for the next stages of their education.’

Ofsted September 2017

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Eaton House Belgravia Pre-Prep

ADDRESS: 3-5 Eaton Gate, Belgravia, London SW1W 9BA WEBSITE: www.eatonhouseschools.com FOUNDED: 1898 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 240 AGES: 3-8 FEES: £5460 per term HEAD TEACHER: Huw May RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational Christian ethos ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Non-selective at age 4, older children may be subject to assessment CONTACT: 020 7924 6000 EMAIL: admissions@EHTM.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Open house or individual tours (contact us for further details at www.eatonhouseschools.com).

Eaton House Belgravia Prep

ADDRESS: 2 Elvaston Place, Kensington, London SW7 5QH WEBSITE: www.eatonhouseschools.com FOUNDED: 2017 AGES: 8 - 13 FEES: £6485 per term HEAD TEACHER: Huw May RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational Christian ethos ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Non-selective for internal candidates, 8+ for external.

CONTACT: 020 7924 6000 EMAIL: admissions@EHTM.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Open house or individual tours (contact us for further details at www.eatonhouseschools.com).

THE CURRICULUM: Our curriculum is designed to offer our boys a breadth of experience and prepare them to the highest academic standards through their individual learning plan, ready for their next school.

THE CURRICULUM: Our boys are prepared for the finest day and boarding schools. We are aspirational for every child and the progress they will make in their five years at EHB Prep school will be remarkable.

GAMES & THE ARTS: Sport and the Arts are central to our philosophy.

A combination of onsite PE lessons and offsite games and swimming sessions enable our boys to develop key sports skills. Our wide range of performance opportunities enable boys to share their talents with the community.

GAMES & THE ARTS: Sport is an integral part of life at school, whether representing the school or their house, or simply learning to be part of a team. Nearly three-quarters of our boys play a musical instrument and all the boys also have lessons in our DT and Art Room.

PASTORAL CARE: Our buddy system helps to integrate the newest boys into the school right from the beginning. Our house system provides another layer of support and guidance. Teamwork is encouraged along with a healthy competitive spirit. The form teacher is the key person who ensures the boys are supported in their emotional development. Parents are encouraged to drop off and pickup their son from the classroom where the teachers are able to say how the day has gone.

PASTORAL CARE: We know the boys and share in all their academic triumphs, supporting them in any way wherever possible. Pastoral care is intrinsic in all we do, the fundamental cornerstone of all the schools in the Eaton House Schools Group. Our Form Tutors and well established House System provide the overarching structure for our pastoral care, but it is the personal attention from the staff that ensures that our care is outstanding.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: We encourage boys to try everything, be aware of the world around them, have an opinion, listen to others, adapt, be confident, persevere, learn from their mistakes, be responsible, make good choices, be kind, considerate and look after each other. We want boys to thrive on the personalised learning plan that they have prepared with their teacher and to have fun with it!

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: • Higher academic standards are achieved in single sex schools.

• Personalised learning plans for all boys • We offer the perfect blend of traditional values with a forward thinking education • Our ‘Open Door’ policy means that parents can feel fully involved • The school feels like a family

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: We encourage boys to try everything, be aware of the world around them, have an opinion, listen to others, adapt, be confident, persevere, learn from their good mistakes, be responsible, make good choices, be kind, considerate and look after each other. Boys will thrive in a school which makes personalised learning important and focuses on the individual. We want them to have fun!

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: • Higher academic standards are achieved in single sex schools.

• Education in conjunction with The Natural History Museum, The Science Museum and The V&A Museum • The boys brim with academic confidence.

• Two hours of sport every day

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LONDON PREPARATORY SCHOOLS

Eaton House The Manor Pre-Preparatory School

ADDRESS: 58 Clapham Common Northside, London SW4 9RU WEBSITE: www.eatonhouseschools.com FOUNDED: 1993 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 210 AGES: 4 - 8 FEES: £5,100 per term HEAD TEACHER: Nicola Borthwick RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational Christian ethos ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Non-selective at age 4, older children may be subject to assessment CONTACT: 020 7924 6000 EMAIL: admissions@EHTM.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Weekly open house every Wednesday morning (contact us for further details at www.eatonhouseschools.com).

THE CURRICULUM: We attain high academic results, achieved in a calm and positive manner. Inspiring teachers and excellent resources help to develop a life-long love of learning. Boys are encouraged to take ownership of their learning and adopt a ‘can do’ attitude.

GAMES & THE ARTS: Sport plays an essential role in the development of character and teamwork; specialist sports staff nurture a love of sport through positive experiences. Drama, art and music have a positive impact on all-round academic performance, all seen as fundamental in developing communication skills and confidence.

PASTORAL CARE: Our exceptional teachers understand and support the boys so that they grow in self-belief. Our buddy system helps to integrate the newest boys into the school right from the beginning. Our house system provides another layer of support and guidance. Team work is encouraged along with a healthy competitive spirit.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: Developing a life-long love of learning is our ultimate goal. We firmly believe it is no coincidence that children learn best when they feel happy and secure. We recognise each boy as an individual, understanding what makes them tick and nurturing their talents, ensuring that they feel known and valued.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: • Eaton House Pre-Prep is a school that feels like a family • We offer the perfect blend of traditional values with a forward thinking education • Our ‘Open Door’ policy means that parents can feel fully involved

Eaton House The Manor Prep

ADDRESS: 58 Clapham Common Northside, London SW4 9RU WEBSITE: www.eatonhouseschools.com FOUNDED: 1993 AGES: 8 - 13 FEES: £6300 per term HEAD TEACHER: Sarah Segrave RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational Christian ethos ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Non-selective for internal candidates, 8+ for external CONTACT: 020 7924 6000 EMAIL: admissions@EHTM.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Weekly open house every Wednesday morning (contact us for further details at www.eatonhouseschools.com).

THE CURRICULUM: Our boys are prepared for the finest day and boarding schools. We are aspirational for every child and the progress they make in their five years at EHTM Prep school is remarkable.

GAMES & THE ARTS: Sport is an integral part of life at school, whether representing the school or their house, or simply learning to be part of a team. Nearly three-quarters of our boys play a musical instrument and every boy within the school has weekly drama lessons.

PASTORAL CARE: Knowing the boys, sharing their highs and lows, being there for them in every way. Pastoral care is intrinsic in all we do, the fundamental cornerstone of Eaton House. Our Form Tutors and well-established House System provide the overarching structure for our pastoral care, but it is the attention to detail from the staff that ensures that our care is outstanding.

RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: 3 scholarships, including a top academic scholarship for Dulwich College.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: An outstanding education is one where teachers are emotionally connected with their pupils and where the relationships between the staff, pupils and parents are bound in a common sense of purpose. An excellent school has passionate, intelligent staff who show a determination to make a difference every day.

A school is not a building, or a curriculum or a timetable. A school is a place where children grow intellectually and emotionally, guided by teachers who are determined that on their watch, children succeed and are happy.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: • Higher academic standards are achieved in single sex schools • At The Manor, boys brim with academic confidence • ‘The pupils have an excellent moral understanding. They demonstrate an outstanding natural courtesy and consideration towards everyone.’ - ISI Report • ‘The thing that I will miss the most is the atmosphere, how everyone is usually so happy and so encouraging’ - Zach, Year 8

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Eaton House The Manor Girls’ School

ADDRESS: 58 Clapham Common Northside, London SW4 9RU WEBSITE: www.eatonhouseschools.com FOUNDED: 2008 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 193 AGES: 4 - 11 FEES: £5,100 per term HEAD TEACHER: Oliver Snowball RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational Christian ethos ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Non-selective at age 4; English & Maths assessment for older girls CONTACT: 020 7924 6000 EMAIL: admissions@EHTM.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Weekly open house every Wednesday morning (contact us for further details at www.eatonhouseschools.com).

THE CURRICULUM: “Teaching is highly effective in promoting pupils’ excellent progress and attainment.” (ISI Report). Our relaxed but highly stimulating classroom environment promotes intellectual curiosity. Academic exploration and risk-taking are two essential ingredients.

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.

PASTORAL CARE: “The staff are a delight and look after the girls beautifully.” (Parent, Cappco Report). When girls are happy they are more effective learners and more confident participators. For us, pastoral care is about understanding and supporting each individual child. Our House system, excellent form teachers and very visible senior management team all combine to ensure each girl feels known.

RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: In 2016-17 thirteen scholarships (including Wimbledon High, Putney High, JAGS).

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: I want the girls to have an adventure at school. I want each of them to feel they are known, nurtured, encouraged and challenged. I want our school to inspire a genuine love of learning with a deep rooted respect for all people and places.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: • We treat each child as an individual so they can blossom academically, socially and behaviourally • We strive to give every child the confidence to discover where their gifts lie • We share with parents in the child’s spiritual, moral and intellectual development

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: 35 in total AGES: 3 – 4 ½ FEES: From £490 for one afternoon - £2760 for five mornings (per term) HEAD TEACHER: Roosha Sue (EHTM) Helena Lottering (EHB) RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational Christian ethos ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Non-selective CONTACT: 020 7924 6000 EMAIL: admissions@EHTM.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: EHTM: Weekly open house every Wednesday.

EHB: Open house or individual tours (contact us for further details at www.eatonhouseschools.com).

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 and the sky is the limit. Individual and small group work allows us to constantly differentiate between pupils. There are many activities on offer, from sports and swimming, to IT, drama and design in our brand new state-of-the art nurseries.

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. All children take part in our annual nativity and throughout the year we also have smaller performances.

PASTORAL CARE: ‘Pastoral care is extremely strong, 100% rated it excellent or good’ Cappco, EHTM, 2017. Each child is supported and encouraged, gaining independence and confidence. When children leave our nurseries they are fully prepared for big school.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: Roosha Sue: 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 all of our Cubs and Bears are excited and curious to learn through being exposed to a variety of experiences, from cooking, yoga, pottery and languages. Our children leave school ready, confident and eager to continue their learning journey.

Helena Lottering: I believe that Nursery should be a “Happy Place” where children have the freedom to explore & discover. They should have the courage to take risks, the opportunity to express their personalities and the challenges for them to reach their full potential.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: •We empower children to be independent and curious learners •We aim to have your child completely ‘school ready’ •Children are unique and so is their learning journey

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LONDON PREPARATORY SCHOOLS

Dolphin School (Inc Noah’s Ark Nursery Schools)

ADDRESS: 106 Northcote Road, London SW11 6QW WEBSITE: www.dolphinschool.org.uk FOUNDED: 1986 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 304 boys and girls AGES: 2½–11 FEES: Nursery £1,880 per term; Reception, Years 1 and 2 £3,895 per term; Years 3–6 £4,295 per term HEAD TEACHER: Mrs Nicola Baldwin RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Christian ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Reception class, early registration recommended; Year 1–6, assessment day and past school reports.

CONTACT: Mrs Vivienne Benson, 020 7924 3472 EMAIL: admissions@dolphinschool.org.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Thursday mornings by appointment.

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 he or she learns best. We give priority to English and maths and add hands-on science, colourful geography, history (with outings to the real thing) and whole-school Spanish.

GAMES & THE ARTS: We train pupils in the arts with fantastic specialist teaching and a plethora of performing and exhibiting opportunities. We also coach children in a wide range of sports through dynamic teaching and a superb fixture list.

Durston House

ADDRESS: 12 Castlebar Road, Ealing, London W5 2DR WEBSITE: www.durstonhouse.org FOUNDED: 1886 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 408 boys AGES: 4–13 FEES: £4000–£4870 per term HEAD TEACHER: Ian Kendrick RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Inter-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Registration followed by assessment.

CONTACT: Mrs C Ferns, registrar, 020 8991 6532 EMAIL: info@durstonhouse.org SCHOOL VISITS: Please contact the registrar to arrange a tour with the headmaster.

THE CURRICULUM: Boys are prepared for Common Entrance and scholarship examinations to leading schools at 13+ and 11+. The curriculum is National Curriculum plus.

GAMES & THE ARTS: Much emphasis is on physical and cultural education. Games played include football, rugby, cricket, tennis and athletics.

PASTORAL CARE: From the ISI Inspection Report 2015: ‘The social development of the pupils is an outstanding feature of the school.’

PASTORAL CARE: We are committed to giving both time and care to grow your child’s character on his or her journey from reception to Year 6. Our Christian ethos leads us to believe that personal growth ultimately matters more than lists of achievements. So while we are thrilled by children’s awards and accolades, we are even more excited about who they are.

SENIOR EXIT SCHOOLS: Day schools: St Paul’s, Merchant Taylors’, St Benedict’s, Hampton, Ibstock, John Lyon School, City of London, Mill Hill, Kings College, Westminster.

Boarding Schools: St Edward’s, Oxford, Bloxham, Bradfield, Charterhouse, Eton, Harrow, Haberdashers’ Aske’s, Radley, Shiplake, Stowe, Wellington, Winchester.

SENIOR EXIT SCHOOLS: Alleyn’s, City of London Boys, City of London Girls, Downe House, Dulwich College, Emanuel, Francis Holland, Hall School Wimbledon, Ibstock Place School, JAGS, Lady Margaret School, Putney High School, Royal Russell School, Streatham & Clapham High, Thames Christian College, Sydenham High School & Croydon High School.

RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Since 2007: St Paul’s (34), Eton (one), Harrow (one), Bloxham (one), John Lyon (three), City of London (one), Merchant Taylors’ (nine), Mill Hill (one), Stowe (two), Hampton (one). Music Awards: Harrow (three), Christ’s Hospital (one), Emanuel (one) & St Paul’s (one). Outstanding Talent Awards: Harrow (two).

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.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: –The combination of nurture and dynamism.

–The passionate commitment of the staff.

–A fantastic all-round education.

–One of the Sunday Times’ top 50 prep schools.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: A happy school is an effective school; and an effective school is constantly moving forward.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: The school possesses a unique family atmosphere where pupils are encouraged to achieve in their own terms with the support of a caring staff.

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Falcons Pre Prep

ADDRESS: 2 Burnaby Gardens, Chiswick London W4 3DT WEBSITE: www.falconsboys.co.uk FOUNDED: 1956 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 120 AGES: 3-7 FEES: £2825 - £5700 HEAD TEACHER: Mr Andrew Forbes RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Candidates are invited for an inclassroom assessment.

CONTACT: Mrs Barbara Ivie EMAIL: admin@falconsboys.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Saturday 10 March 10.30-12.30.

THE CURRICULUM: We provide boys with a high quality education in a challenging environment. The school’s energy is directed at the provision and enhancement of outstanding teaching and learning. This involves positive and supportive relationships between pupils, parents, staff and the wider community.

GAMES & THE ARTS: We promote the importance of health and fitness through participation in physical activity; to acquire knowledge, skills and understanding in a variety of activities suitable for the age, ability and experience of the pupils. We place a big emphasis on the arts and strongly believe in allowing the boys to choose how they work and be more ‘child led’ rather than ‘adult led’.

PASTORAL CARE: The boys are always our first priority. Every child has the right to feel happy, safe and valued in caring and supportive surroundings. Our values are built on mutual trust and respect for all.

It is our aim that every member of the school community shares this ethos, and is treated fairly and as an individual. Our outstanding team of experienced staff ensure excellent levels of teaching and the best pastoral care possible.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: Academic excellence is at the forefront of every child’s learning experience and we believe that every boy should leave our Pre-Prep as a well-rounded, confident and resilient individual. We offer a vibrant atmosphere filled with laughter and fun, where children are encouraged, nurtured and motivated at every turn.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: ‘The pupils’ overall achievement is excellent. The quality of teaching is excellent. Excellent pastoral care boosts the pupils’ confidence and academic progress. The quality of pupils’ achievements, learning, skills and attitudes is excellent. High expectations of what pupils can do.’

Quotes from our last full ISI Inspection.

Falcons Prep

ADDRESS: 41 Kew Foot Road, Richmond TW9 2SS WEBSITE: www.falconsprep.co.uk FOUNDED: 2008 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 170 AGES: 7 – 13 years FEES: £5,665 per term HEAD TEACHER: Mrs Franciska Bayliss RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Selective. Assessments in English, mathematics, interview and references from current school.

CONTACT: Mrs Sarah Harris EMAIL: Registrar@falconsprep.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Saturday 17 March 10.30-12.30. Private visits are available all year, contact the registrar to arrange.

THE CURRICULUM: Boys follow the Common Entrance syllabus, thoroughly preparing them for transition to their chosen senior school.

Boys have the option to move to their senior school through either 11+ or 13+ common entrance selection processes.

GAMES & THE ARTS: We understand the importance of physical activity for the health, well-being and behaviour of young boys and pride ourselves in our sport provision. Our arts provide the boys with a firm foundation on which visual literacy and natural creativity can develop fully.

PASTORAL CARE: Every boy has the right to feel happy, safe and valued in caring and supportive surroundings. Our knowledgeable and experienced staff ensure outstanding levels of teaching and pastoral care. Every boy has equal access to the full curriculum and well-planned purposeful activities. The school’s behaviour policy is embedded and central to the success of our community. Over time, the boys grow into positive, responsible and increasingly independent members of the school community.

RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Monmouth School – Academic and Sport, Sir John Lyon – Academic, Haileybury – Academic and Reeds - Drama.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: At Falcons we are committed to boys’ education. The school has a challenging academic curriculum supported by an established and effective pastoral care programme.

Leavers continue to achieve outstanding results to leading schools both day and boarding schools including: City of London, Charterhouse, Wellington, King’s College, Hampton, St Paul’s and Epsom College and all achieve their secondary school goals.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: • Individuality through fostering boys’ talents and unique skills • Innovation in a fast moving and ever changing technological world • Inquiry and the acquisition of knowledge through exceptional teaching • Inclusivity through rewarding community relationships

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Falcons Girls’ School

Ibstock Place Prep School

ADDRESS: 11 Woodborough Road, Putney, London SW15 6PY WEBSITE: www.falconsgirls.co.uk FOUNDED: 2000 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 120 AGES: 3 – 11 years FEES: £2,795 per term (Pre-reception mornings only) to £5,110 per term (Reception - Year 6) HEAD TEACHER: Mrs Sophia Ashworth Jones RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: All faiths welcome ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Non-selective CONTACT: Mrs Harriet Stokes, Registrar EMAIL: admin@falconsgirls.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Open Day: 3 February 10:30am – 12:00pm.

Scholarship Day: 17 March 2018. 9:00am -10:30am.

ADDRESS: Clarence Lane, London SW15 5PY WEBSITE: www.ibstockplaceschool.co.uk FOUNDED: 1894 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 150 boys, 150 girls AGES: 4-11 FEES: £5,220 – £5,415 per term HEAD TEACHER: Miss Marion MacDonald RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Non-selective at four years old; assessment for occasional places thereafter CONTACT: Miss C Voysey, Registrar, 020 8392 5803 EMAIL: registrar@ibstockplaceschool.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: 2 May & 20 June

THE CURRICULUM: Our forward-thinking, knowledge-rich curriculum gives the girls the knowledge and skills required to thrive in modern Britain. It is designed to ensure our girls are prepared to succeed in the Year Six 11+ examinations for London day and country boarding schools.

THE CURRICULUM: Kindergarten and Prep 1 children follow the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum, divided into seven areas of learning. Prep years 2-6 follow a broad curriculum, with daily classes in English and mathematics.

GAMES & THE ARTS: Games, music, art and drama are all taught by our own specialist teachers, twice a week, giving all of our girls the best opportunity to flourish athletically and creatively.

PASTORAL CARE: We are a family school, where every child and parent is known to all members of staff. We encourage parents to be active partners operating an ‘open door’ policy so any problems are flagged and dealt with efficiently. We actively promote an anti-bullying ethos throughout the school and the Falcons Rules are upheld through a series of clearly defined rewards and sanctions.

SENIOR EXIT SCHOOLS: Godolphin and Latymer, Ibstock Place School, Putney High, Wimbledon High, Surbiton High, Kew House, Francis Holland and Queen’s Gate.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: Making sure that your daughter feels cherished is our mission. Her wellbeing and happiness will determine her progress in the classroom and that will serve to maintain her self-esteem and positive outlook towards a continued, lifelong love of learning.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: • Exceptional pastoral care • A happy, family school where every child is cherished • Outstanding facilities: an acre of beautiful landscaped gardens, science laboratory, drama and ballet studio, art rooms, outdoor classroom, astroturf and ‘wilderness’ area • The majority of girls are awarded their first choice of senior school • Extensive extra-curricular offering • A friendly and active Parent and Friends Association

GAMES & THE ARTS: Games to Prep 2 focuses on basic skills. Prep 3-6 have a termly programme of football, netball, rugby, hockey, cricket, rounders and athletics. Rich and wide range of creative activities, music and productions offered; annual art exhibition; extensive dance opportunities. Caring teachers and classroom assistants aim to develop a successful home/school partnership, encouraging trust, sharing information and keeping parents informed. All children are provided with a wide and nutritionally balanced diet at School to develop their health, growth and wellbeing. Pupils are shown that meal times are a good opportunity to socialise and share food. The school nurse is present during school hours should medical attention be required.

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.

RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: The majority of pupils progress to Ibstock Place Senior School.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: We nurture the talents of our pupils in a supportive and purposeful environment; the staff encourage discovery and creative problem solving so that as our pupils mature they adapt to changing situations and are able to apply their knowledge independently. We are a Christian school and welcome children from other faiths.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Experienced staff are able to evaluate the abilities of each pupil and offer support and guidance when planning the next steps of development. In the Early Years, children may explore and investigate at their own pace. Older children’s cross-curricular work in science, history and geography provides rich stimuli for learning.

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LONDON PREPARATORY SCHOOLS

Kensington Prep School GDST

ADDRESS: 596 Fulham Road, London SW6 5PA WEBSITE: www.kensingtonprep.gdst.net FOUNDED: 1873 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 295 girls AGES: 4–11 FEES: £5,524 HEAD TEACHER: Mrs Prudence Lynch RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Registration followed by assessment.

CONTACT: Mrs J Bonner, 020 7731 9300, enquiries@kenprep.gdst.net SCHOOL VISITS: Deadline to register for 4+ entry in September 2019 is 28 September 2018. Please check school website for Open Day details for registered girls.

Kew College

ADDRESS: 24-26 Cumberland Road, Kew, Surrey TW9 3HQ WEBSITE: www.kewcollege.com FOUNDED: 1953 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 296 AGES: 3–11 FEES: £2,350 - £3,850 per term HEAD TEACHER: Mrs Marianne Austin BSc (Hons) MA (Hons) ACA PGCE RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Children must be registered as soon as possible after birth.

CONTACT: Mrs 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: Genuinely broad, well-balanced education. Reflective and independent thinking encouraged in all subjects. Residential trips in Years 4, 5 and 6 (to France in 2016) and overseas choir tour (to Venice in 2016).

GAMES & THE ARTS: Netball, rounders, football, dance, swimming and gym.

Fantastic pitches, large gym. Generously timetabled, quality music, art, drama, design technology. Orchestras, choirs, recorder and string groups. All girls perform in music concerts and plays to parents.

PASTORAL CARE: Happiness is our first priority. Staff know the girls well, support and encourage them, and build strong relationships with home. We treat the girls as individuals, nurturing their development.

SENIOR EXIT SCHOOLS FOR THE LAST ACADEMIC YEAR: St Paul’s, City of London Girls’ School, Godolphin & Latymer, Latymer Upper, Wimbledon High GDST, Putney High GDST, Wycombe Abbey.

RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: City of London Girls’ School, Francis Holland Graham Terrace, South Hampstead High School, Putney High School GDST, Queen’s Gate, Woldingham and Wycombe Abbey.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: Excellent staff make an excellent school where children can learn whilst secure, happy and having fun. Each pupil is unique and we believe that asking good questions is as important as answering. High importance placed on mutual respect.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: –School now has some of the best prep school facilities in the UK following an innovative £2.7m building project.

–’Warm, buzzy atmosphere’.

– School achieved highest possible grades in May 2015 Inspection. ‘Quality of the pupils’ achievements and learning is exceptional’.

– Questioning, brave thinking encouraged with innovative teaching and latest ICT. – Girls treated as individuals. Close relationships with supportive parent body.

– High academic standards.

– Sunday Times Parent Power Prep School of the Year (2009/10).

THE CURRICULUM: The importance of English, maths and science is emphasised at the school, but within a broad curriculum, which includes art, drama, French, Latin, history, geography, technology, music and sport.

GAMES & THE ARTS: Netball, hockey, rounders, rugby, football, swimming, athletics and gymnastics. Inter-school matches. Drama and music are encouraged, there are summer plays and Christmas and spring concerts, as well as several school choirs, an orchestra, string and wind groups.

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 2010 which concluded that, ‘pupils’ personal development and the school’s arrangements for welfare, health and safety are outstanding.’

RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Year 6 pupils this year were awarded 20 scholarships.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: Pupils should feel excited about learning and about communicating their ideas. They need an excellent grounding in core skills combined with inspirational teaching to give them the confidence to achieve their personal best in all curricular and extracurricular areas. Mutual respect between staff and pupils is of paramount importance.

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 October 2010 rated our pastoral care ‘outstanding’.

– 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.

– Traditional teaching with a creative flair.

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LONDON PREPARATORY SCHOOLS

The Mall School

ADDRESS: 185 Hampton Road, Twickenham, TW2 5NQ WEBSITE: www.themallschool.org.uk FOUNDED: 1872 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 300 HEAD TEACHER: Mr David Price AGES: 4–13; from 2019 boys willl leave at the age of 11 FEES: Reception to Yr 2, £3885; Yr 3–Yr 8, £4370 RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Non-selective entry into Reception. Entry at 7+ by assessment including day spent in school.

CONTACT: Ms Alex Penny 020 8614 1082 admissions@themallschool.org.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Open mornings: 20 February, 14 March, 2 May & 11 June.

THE CURRICULUM: Specialist teaching: music and PE from Reception; French from Year 2 and from Year 4 in all subjects including science, art and DT in our purpose built facilities. Verbal and non-verbal reasoning lessons are introduced in Year 4 in preparation for 11+ examinations.

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

GAMES & THE ARTS: Major sports are football, rugby and cricket. All boys have weekly swimming lessons in our indoor pool. In Year 3 all boys get to play in their first competitive sports fixture. There are lots of plays and musical groups to get involved in using our 130 seat theatre and music rooms.

PASTORAL CARE: Boys in Reception and Year 1 are taught in our separate pre-prep building allowing them to settle quickly and easily into school routines.

In Years 2 and 3 boys remain with their class teacher for the majority of lessons. In Year 4 boys become more independent. They have a form tutor who is responsible for their day-to-day care but they start to move around the school for their lessons.

In preparation for 11+ Year 6 boys will have a mentor, a member of staff in addition to their form tutor.

RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Hampton, St Paul’s, Reed’s and Brighton College.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: The Mall School’s mission is to bring out the best in every boy. We believe that all boys have potential and that it is through inspirational teaching and excellent pastoral care that we can develop this potential.

Our independence enables us to find the right senior school for every boy.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: • The school has recently announced that it is to become an 11+ school from 2019.

• We have an impressive record of success at securing places at a range of academically selective senior schools.

• We recently installed an interactive outdoor play area for boys at the pre-prep.

• We run daily minibus routes from various places such as Richmond and Chiswick.

The next issue of SCHOOL HOUSE MAGAZINE is out in September 2018 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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Hurlingham School

Lion House Hurlingham’s Nursery & Pre-Prep

ADDRESS: 122 Putney Bridge Road, London SW15 2NQ WEBSITE: www.hurlinghamschool.co.uk NUMBER OF PUPILS: 320 AGES: 4–11 FEES: Lower School £5,180, Middle and Upper School £5,395 HEAD TEACHER: Jonathan Brough RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Non-selective CONTACT: Mrs Fiona Driver, admissions secretary, 020 8874 7186 EMAIL: admissions@hurlinghamschool.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Please contact the school to arrange an appointment.

ADDRESS: The Old Methodist Hall, Gwendolen Avenue, London SW15 3EH WEBSITE: www.lionhouseschool.co.uk NUMBER OF PUPILS: 120 AGES: 2-7 FEES: Nursery – 5 mornings £2,650 per term; for other options see website. Pre-prep £4,616 per term.

HEAD TEACHER: Jonathan Brough RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Non-selective at Nursery. Early registration advised.

CONTACT: admissions@lionhouseschool.co.uk Tel: 020 8780 9446 SCHOOL VISITS: Please contact the school to arrange an appointment.

THE CURRICULUM: Hurlingham initiates a love of learning in all children: wherever each and every pupil’s strengths lie, we value and celebrate their gifts and talents. This was recognised by the National Association for Able Children in Education in 2017 through success in gaining the prestigious Challenge Award.

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. The school achieved Artsmark Gold in 2017 and featured in the recent London Schools talk Artsmark film.

SENIOR EXIT SCHOOLS FOR THE LAST ACADEMIC YEAR: Dulwich, Emanuel, Epsom College, Francis Holland, Godolphin and Latymer, King’s College Wimbledon, Kingston Grammar, Lady Eleanor Holles, Lady Margaret’s, Latymer Upper, Putney High, Reed’s, St Paul’s Girls’, Surbiton High, Wimbledon High and Woldingham.

RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Dulwich College, Emanuel, Hampton, JAGS, Kingston Grammar, LEH, More House, Notre Dame, St Paul’s Girls, Surbiton High, Whitgift and Wimbledon High.

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.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: Children at Hurlingham are never just taught, but are educated in the broadest sense of the word as each day brings fresh opportunities, challenges, discoveries and achievements.

As a school, we aim to capitalise on them all and not to waste a single one.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Fantastic children, wonderful, dedicated staff, purpose-built learning environment for the 21st century.

Rated ‘outstanding’ in all areas of recent inspection.

THE CURRICULUM: Lion House offers a wide variety of creative, enjoyable activities in large airy classrooms where children learn and play together. From the earliest days on the Early Years Foundation Stage, through to the end of Year 2 when everyone sits 7+ exams (those who do not wish to do so having moved to the main Hurlingham site for Reception), purposeful focused stimulation characterises every school day.

GAMES & THE ARTS: Music, drama and sport are all co-ordinated by specialist staff. The nursery children enjoy regular music, movement and outdoor learning, whilst the pre-prep pupils are introduced to tennis, football, cricket, rounders, swimming, gymnastics and hockey.

PASTORAL CARE: ‘Pupils are exceptionally well cared for. The school has excellent arrangements in place to ensure that pupils are safe at all times’. Ofsted May 2014 EXIT SCHOOLS: Recent 7+ successes include: Bute House, Feltonfleet, Fulham Prep., Kensington Prep., Kings College Wimbledon, Lady Eleanor Holles, Latymer Prep., Putney High, St. Paul’s School Juniors, Shrewsbury House, Surbiton High, Tower House and Woodcote House.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: Nursery provision at Lion House fosters and develops children’s interest in the world around them through initiating a life-long love of learning and academic life. From Reception onwards, Lion House is all about gaining entry to traditional prep and junior schools at the age of seven through exciting, rigorous challenges for those children with a competitive spirit and an academic frame of mind.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: An idyllic, small school with large classrooms and lots of scope for self-expression in a nurturing, academic setting. Children quickly become confident, outgoing and inquisitive about the world around them.

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LONDON PREPARATORY SCHOOLS

North Bridge House Junior Schools

ADDRESS: 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 380, Prep 456 AGES: 2–13 FEES: £16,575 to £17,340 per annum HEAD TEACHER: Lower- Christine McLelland, Prep- Brodie Bibby RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Children meet with the head teacher.

For the Prep school there is also a maths and English assessment.

CONTACT: Admissions office 020 7428 1520 EMAIL: admissionsenquiries@northbridgehouse.com SCHOOL VISITS: Nursery School: 20 Feb and 6 March; Prep School: 9 Feb, 4 May and 14 June.

GAMES & THE ARTS: Sports, which range from the traditional to the unusual (such as flamenco and salsa dancing, and yoga), help develop pupils’ physical and emotional wellbeing as well as essential team working skills. The arts are key to NBH’s curricular and extracurricular offering – with plays and concerts regularly staged.

PASTORAL CARE: Pupil wellbeing is at the heart of everything here. All teachers are informed and actively committed to the pastoral aspects of school life and, alongside specialist staff, provide a strong system of support. Pupils are equipped with the skills required to make moral and informed life choices while NBH’s happy community provides a sense of belonging and security.

RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Pupils are placed at leading senior schools with academic, art, music and sports scholarships.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: North Bridge House provides an individually-tailored education for boys and girls, in an environment that fosters happy and confident pupils, proud of their achievements.

We know, support and inspire each individual to achieve their full potential and provide a solid foundation for a successful academic career and adult life.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: All NBH pupils can transition from Nursery to Sixth Form without the added pressure of entrance exams. 2017 data from the end of Key Stage 1 placed 40% of the Pre-Prep cohort in the top 5% of the country. Prep School pupils do exceptionally well in their 11+ girls and 13+ boys assessments, with numerous scholarships for the top senior schools in London and the UK.

Orchard House School

ADDRESS: 16 Newton Grove, London W4 1LB WEBSITE: www.orchardhs.org.uk FOUNDED: 1993 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 290+ AGES: 3–11 FEES: £2,840 - £5,920 per term HEADMISTRESS: Mrs M V Edwards BEd (Bedford) CertEd (Man) RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Non-selective at nursery and reception stages, thereafter by assessment.

CONTACT: Diana Goodeve-Docker, Registrar, 020 8987 9886, registrar@orchardhs.org.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Open morning: Thursday 8 March GAMES & THE ARTS: As well as its own artificial grass and tarmac play areas, Orchard House has the use of the nearby Chiswick Back Common and Rocks Lane astro turf. Children are also taken weekly to Acton New Pools and to Brentford Leisure Centre. The school is well equipped with laptops and the latest technology. It also has its own dedicated art teacher and is able to fire ceramics. The music department is led by the director of music and concerts are held regularly in St Michael and All Angels Church. Drama productions are staged regularly at venues such as Chiswick Town Hall.

SENIOR EXIT SCHOOLS FOR THE LAST ACADEMIC YEAR: Latymer Upper, Godolphin and Latymer, City of London School, Notting Hill and Ealing, Francis Holland, Hampton, St Paul’s Girls, Downe House, Emanuel School, Ibstock Place, Kew House, KCS Wimbledon, Lambrook, Lady Eleanor Holles, Putney High, Queen’s Gate, St James, St Paul’s, The Harrodian and Westminster.

RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Emanuel, Francis Holland, Hampton, More House, KCS Wimbledon, Notting Hill & Ealing, St Benedict’s, St Mary’s Calne, Wycombe Abbey, City of London Boys, Hampton, KCS, Latymer, Notting Hill and Ealing, Putney, St Benedict’s, Francis Holland, Bedales and Emanuel.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: The children are loved first and taught second. We believe learning should be exciting and fun, and that children should positively want to come to Orchard House each day. The professional and committed staff respond to each child’s needs rather than being a hostage to league tables: nevertheless our approach leads to very strong academic results.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: •Bright, naturally lit and well equipped classrooms. State-of-the-art ICT resources and specialist ICT staff.

•Friendly, homely atmosphere; attention to/respect for each child.

• Very committed teachers – low turnover of staff; many specialist teachers and high academic standards.

• Special needs identified early and appropriate remedial programmes arranged quickly.

• Home cooked lunches of top quality.

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LONDON PREPARATORY SCHOOLS

Peregrines Pre-Prep

ADDRESS: 11 Woodborough Road, Putney, London SW15 6PY WEBSITE: www.peregrinespreprep.co.uk FOUNDED: 2017 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 58 AGES: 3–8 FEES: £2,795 per term (Pre-Reception mornings only) £5,110 per term (Reception – Year 3) HEAD TEACHER: Mrs Sophia Ashworth Jones RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: All faiths welcome ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Non-selective CONTACT: Mrs Harriet Stokes, Registrar EMAIL: admin@falconsgirls.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Open Day: 3 February 10:30am -12:00pm .

THE CURRICULUM: Peregrines pupils enjoy hands on, stimulating lessons that draw on a wide variety of learning styles and the latest technology, ensuring that we meet the learning needs of every girl and boy.

GAMES & THE ARTS: PE, music, ballet and drama are all taught by our own specialist teachers, twice a week, giving all of our pupils the best opportunity to flourish athletically and creatively.

PASTORAL CARE: Pastoral care is a priority and is reflected and embedded in all aspects of Peregrines’ life. We aim to give our pupils the best start to their education by creating a secure and happy learning environment. Every girl and boy has an individual learning plan ensuring both their educational and pastoral needs are met and parents are encouraged to be active partners in their child’s education through our ‘open door’ policy.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: Making sure that your child feels cherished is our mission. A child’s wellbeing and happiness will determine their progress in the classroom and that will serve to maintain their self-esteem and positive outlook towards a continued, lifelong love of learning.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: • Exceptional pastoral care: every child has their own individual learning plan • A happy, family school where every child is cherished • Outstanding facilities: an acre of beautiful landscaped gardens, science laboratory, drama and ballet studio, art rooms, outdoor classroom, Astroturf and ‘wilderness’ area • Extensive extra-curricular offering • A friendly and active Parent and Friends Association ensuring everyone feels involved in the life of the school

Prospect House School

ADDRESS: 75 Putney Hill, London SW15 3NT WEBSITE: www.prospecths.org.uk FOUNDED: 1964 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 300+ AGES: 3–11 FEES: £2,840 - £5,920 per term HEAD TEACHER: Mr Michael Hodge BPrimEd (Rhodes) QTS RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Non-selective at nursery and reception stages, thereafter by assessment.

CONTACT: Emily Porter, Registrar, 020 8246 4897, registrar@prospecths.org.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Open morning: Thursday 22 February GAMES & THE ARTS: Prospect House has a large private area of artificial grass, allowing for hockey and many other games on an all-weather surface.

The children also use the facilities at Dover House Road playing fields. There are two specialist PE/games teachers. Art is taught by a specialist teacher, as is computing. Music is very strong at the school; there is a director of music and a large number of specialist music teachers to teach individual instruments.

SENIOR EXIT SCHOOLS IN RECENT YEARS: Dulwich College, Latymer Upper, Godolphin and Latymer, City of London School, Hampton, St Paul’s Girls, Benenden, Emanuel, Epsom College, Francis Holland, The Harrodian, Ibstock Place, Kew House, King’s College, Kingston Grammar, Lady Eleanor Holles, Notre Dame, Putney High, St John’s, Surbiton High, Radnor House, Reed’s School, Tiffin’s, Westminster Under School, Wimbledon High, Epsom, Whitgift and Woldingham.

RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: City of London Freemen’s, Dulwich College, Emanuel School, Epsom College, Lady Eleanor Holles, Hampton School, King’s College, Kingston Grammar, Latymer Upper School, Notre Dame, Reed’s, Royal Russell, Surbiton High, Sutton High, St John’s, Wimbledon High and Whitgift.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: For children to achieve and become successful adults they need to have strong foundations. They need to be well taught in these early years so that they are confident in the key subjects of literacy and mathematics and are enthusiastic about learning. Our philosophy is to achieve the best academic results for every child while giving him or her the opportunity for personal growth, so that the children will leave us confident and responsible.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: • High staff to pupil ratio which allows for a personalised approach and high academic standards • Well resourced with excellent ICT facilities used extensively to enrich and extend learning • Specialist staff used from nursery age upward

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LONDON PREPARATORY SCHOOLS

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LONDON PREPARATORY SCHOOLS

Queen’s College Preparatory School

The Study Preparatory School, Wimbledon

ADDRESS: 61 Portland Place, London W1B 1QP WEBSITE: www.qcps.org.uk AGES: 4-11 FOUNDED: 2002 (Queen’s College, 1848) NUMBER OF PUPILS: 240 girls FEES: £5,295 - £5,720 per term HEAD TEACHER: Mrs Emma Webb BA (London), PGCE RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England ethos, welcoming pupils of all faiths and none.

ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Non-selective on entry at 4 years old, thereafter by assessment.

CONTACT: Mrs Rani Winthrop, registrar, 020 7291 0660 EMAIL: info@qcps.org.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Parents are invited to open mornings and meet with the headmistress by private appointment.

ADDRESS: Wilberforce House, Camp Road, Wimbledon Common, London SW19 4UN WEBSITE: www.thestudyprep.co.uk FOUNDED: 1893 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 320 girls AGES: 4–11 FEES: £4,375 per term HEAD TEACHER: Mrs Susan Pepper MA (Oxon) RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Entry at 4+ by ballot; priority given to siblings. Thereafter by informal assessment and interview.

CONTACT: Jane Davis, Admissions Secretary, 020 8947 6969 EMAIL: admissions@thestudyprep.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Regular tours and one major open event per year.

THE CURRICULUM: QCPS offers a first-class cutting edge curriculum which uses all that London has to offer extensively. Inspirational and challenging, our curriculum provides outstanding preparation for Common Entrance and Consortium Examinations.

THE CURRICULUM: The Study offers a broad, balanced and enhanced curriculum where every girl is encouraged to achieve her best, and the focus on the needs and strengths of every individual is key to the success of the school.

GAMES & THE ARTS: Sport and the performing arts are taught by inspirational specialists from reception and play a key role in the life of the school. Most girls take individual music lessons and all take part in concerts, proms, plays and sports fixtures.

GAMES & THE ARTS: Although academic rigour is at the heart of the school, The Study is highly creative, with a reputation for excellence in music and the performing and visual arts. The dynamic PE department ensures success at both regional and national level across athletics, hockey, cross country and netball and has a spacious off-site sports ground with multi-use pitches for training and matches.

PASTORAL CARE: QCPS girls are known as individuals in a warm and nurturing environment where they can excel, be challenged and be happy. A long term view is taken of each girl’s development, and pupils develop confidence and a sense of self through the extensive range of opportunities and experiences made available to them. Great emphasis is placed on the development of character, resilience, ambition, good manners, empathy, compassion and social responsibility.

RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Queen’s College Prep Girls win scholarships and exhibitions every year.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: Prep School days should be an idyllic time when children are part of a warm and happy community; where their intellectual curiosity is harnessed by exceptional teachers who care for them and inspire them to become ambitious, confident, compassionate, accomplished and wellrounded young people exceptionally well prepared for Senior School.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: • Outstanding academic results at 11+ • First-class cutting edge curriculum • Exceptional pastoral care with a warm and inclusive community • Beautiful well-appointed facilities in a unique home-from-home environment in Central London • Exciting co-curricular programme • Lots of trips, lots of adventure, lots of friends and lots of fun!

SENIOR EXIT SCHOOLS FOR THE LAST ACADEMIC YEAR: Day schools include Wimbledon, Putney and Surbiton High Schools, St Paul’s Girls’ School, The Lady Eleanor Holles, Epsom College, Marymount, Notre Dame and St John’s Leatherhead. Boarding schools include Benenden, Downe House, St Mary’s Ascot and Wycombe Abbey.

RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: 2017 was a record year of scholarships, with 35 offered to the Year 6 girls, including academic, all rounder, sport, and music. This brings the The Study’s total of scholarships achieved over the last five years to an impressive 109.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: Mrs Pepper’s mission is to enable each individual to fulfil her potential in a supportive and happy environment. The girls enjoy a rich diversity if experiences, in and out of the classroom, and an understanding of important issues beyond the school gates.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: The Study is a creative school, but not at the expense of academic rigour, as illustrated by its excellent results at 11+. The Study combines the warmth and sense of community of a traditional village school with the facilities and achievements of a leading preparatory.

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LONDON PREPARATORY SCHOOLS

Kew Green Preparatory School

ADDRESS: Layton House, Ferry Lane, Kew Green TW9 3AF WEBSITE: www.kgps.co.uk FOUNDED: 2004 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 130 boys, 130 girls AGES: 4–11 FEES: £5,626 per term, all ages HEAD TEACHER: Mr Jem Peck RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Non-selective at four years old.

CONTACT: Ms M Curtis, 020 8948 5999 EMAIL: secretary@kgps.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: 7 Feb, 21 March, 9 May & 13 June all at 9.15am.

Ravenscourt Park Preparatory School

ADDRESS: 16 Ravenscourt Avenue, London W6 0SL WEBSITE: www.rpps.co.uk FOUNDED: 1991 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 210 boys, 210 girls AGES: 4–11 FEES: £5,626 per term, all ages HEAD TEACHER: Mr Carl Howes RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Non-selective at four years old.

CONTACT: Mrs B Rands, 020 8846 9153 EMAIL: secretary@rpps.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: 6 March, 3 May & 14 June all at 9.15am.

THE CURRICULUM: Our curriculum far exceeds the national curriculum in both breadth and depth. Highly differentiated lessons are delivered creatively and pupils enjoy the learning process. We embrace technology in our educational approach to all subjects. This invariably produces excellent academic results and children develop self-confidence. In its 2015 ISI Inspection report, KGPS was judged “Excellent” in all categories.

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 life-long love of learning. In its 2016 ISI Inspection report, RPPS was judged “Excellent” in all categories.

GAMES & THE ARTS: We have strong art, music and sports departments as

GAMES & THE ARTS: We offer a plethora of opportunities for our pupils to immerse themselves in music, the arts and sport. Our curriculum and co-curricular is enriched with opportunities for our pupils to participate in competitive sporting fixtures, perform in regular concerts and events, or learn an instrument. Pupils also frequently take part in external competitions.

any visitor would realise immediately. All our children compete, perform and enjoy the exceptional standards we achieve in art, music, games and PE. 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, well-motivated and confident to ask questions, make mistakes and give opinions. They are valued and listened to.

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 as soon as you visit.

RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Colet Court, Hampton, King’s College School, Lady Eleanor Holles, Westminster, Latymer and Kingston Grammar.

RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Latymer, Hampton, Queen Anne’s Caversham, St Benedict’s and King’s College Wimbledon.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: Children thrive in an environment that

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 choice of senior school and in later life.

is loving and supportive. Physically, socially, emotionally, creatively and intellectually our children experience an exciting and stimulating learning journey where they are able to flourish and reach for the top.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: The school is situated

in an exceptionally beautiful position on the River Thames beside Kew Green.

Each term is packed with activity where a loving, energetic and happy atmosphere is generated. Our pupils have enjoyed a French ski trip, a choir tour to Venice, tournament wins in netball, rugby and football, drama productions and music soirées, all alongside our continued pursuit of academic excellence. Above all, we believe that children need to be nurtured, guided, motivated and inspired to allow them to blossom.

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

Parsons Green Prep School ADDRESS: 1 Fulham Park Road SW6 4LJ WEBSITE: www.parsonsgreenprep.co.uk FOUNDED: 2001 AGES: 4–11 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 200 boys and girls FEES: £4,910 TO £5,890 HEAD: Mr Tim Cannell ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Visit the school and register for Reception. Places further up the school are usually offered following academic assessment.

CONTACT: Admissions on 020 7610 8085 EMAIL: admissions@parsonsgreenprep.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Midweek tours throughout the term, by appointment only.

Open Day is held in September or October.

THE CURRICULUM: Our ethos is that how a child learns is as important as what a child learns. Our creative curriculum aims to give children real meaning to their learning in a positive and exciting way. The school’s STEM initiative brings science, technology, engineering (design and technology) and maths to life at PGP. ‘The school sets out to provide a creative curriculum, but is well ahead of the curve at primary level in putting STEM subjects at the heart of the maths curriculum.’ Good Schools Guide GAMES & THE ARTS: We compete against other schools in matches and tournaments and attend the Independent Schools Association competitions. The girls’ football team recently won an ISA U11 tournament and the Year 3 boys’ football team won silver. Children can learn a wide range of instruments as well as join the school choir and orchestra. LAMDA lessons are exceptional and our children have done extremely well in this area.

PASTORAL CARE: We have a happy and secure environment where children can have fun, make friends and learn in a safe setting.

‘Those who are searching for somewhere to nurture and inspire happy, confident children – look no further.’ Good Schools Guide HEAD’S PHILOSOPHY: The vision is one of building on the fantastic things that are already happening, such as STEM and chess, and ensuring that the children are not only fully prepared to move on to their new schools but they learn lifelong skills and develop attitudes to learning and life that will allow them to be successful, whatever the future holds. For me, it is the 30-year-old that looks back and understands how their education in the early years has shaped them and allowed them to flourish later in life. That shows what a real prep school education is about. ‘The pupils’ attitudes to learning are excellent.

They have extremely well-developed work

habits and a positive approach to learning.’

ISI

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Our STEM initiative is forward thinking and constantly evolving. This was recognised by the ISA when PGP won the award for Outstanding Provision in STEM, where we competed against junior and senior independent schools.

We also won a STEM Ambassadors Award from the ISA in 2017. In the Mac suite and classrooms, interactive whiteboards use the latest educational software. Our children from Year 3 upwards and some Year 2s have access to their own tablets.

We have an unusual amount of outdoor space including an astroturf pitch and separate play areas, as well as a dedicated Reception playground. Lastly, children are encouraged to play chess from Year 1 (five-year-olds) and it becomes part of the school day from Year 3 upwards. ‘Chess is huge here, deliberately encouraged to develop logical thinking.’ Good Schools Guide Use the code SHFEB18 to receive £15 off your registration fee.

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LONDON PREPARATORY SCHOOLS

Sydenham High Junior School

The White House Prep School

ADDRESS: 15 Westwood Hill, London SE26 6BL WEBSITE: www.sydenhamhighschool.gdst.net FOUNDED: 1887 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 220 girls AGES: 4–11 FEES: £4,260 per term HEADTEACHER: Ms Claire Boyd RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Group assessment for reception and written

ADDRESS: 24 Thornton Road, London SW12 0LF WEBSITE: www.whitehouseschool.com FOUNDED: 1985 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 152 AGES: 2 ½ –11 years FEES: Reception–Year 2 £4,436 per term, Year 3–6 £4,740 per term HEAD TEACHER: Mr Tony Lewis RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Early registration essential, places allocated in order of registration. Interview for Year 1-6 CONTACT: 020 8674 9514 EMAIL: office@whitehouseschool.com SCHOOL VISITS: Weekly showrounds available by appointment only.

Please contact admissions@whitehouseschool.com to arrange.

exam for 7+. Please enquire about occasional places

CONTACT: Admissions Office 020 8557 7003 EMAIL: admissions@syd.gdst.net SCHOOL VISITS: Open Morning on 21 March 9.30-11am (please book online) plus weekly tours and Taster days.

THE CURRICULUM: A broad academic curriculum that encourages independent thinking, enquiring minds and prepares girls for the academic curriculum at the senior school. Girls learn French from reception and Latin from year 5. There are specialist teachers for languages, sport, music, art and DT. GAMES & THE ARTS: Wide and varied co-curricular programme that includes over 50 extra-curricular clubs and a large variety of day trips and residential visits, including a ski trip to the Austrian mountains.

Regular use is made of senior school facilities including the Westwood Theatre, Recital Hall and Astroturf as well as the 8-acre sports ground in Lower Sydenham. Regular swimming takes place at Crystal Palace National Sports Centre.

PASTORAL CARE: A strong PSHE programme is backed up by a positive social environment, supportive teaching staff and close relationships between home and school. The school’s innovative Flourish and Fly initiative emboldens pupils and stretches ability with a half termly programme of experiences and challenges.

SENIOR EXIT SCHOOLS: Thorough 11+ preparation process starts in year 5 with careful preparation for entry to the senior school and a variety of London schools.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: Our aim is to prepare each girl for what the future holds – by setting high expectations, providing a strong academic education and supporting a child’s emotional development to ensure each girl becomes the best she can be.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: The school was judged ‘outstanding’ in its most recent Inspection report. ‘Excellent relationships between staff and children’; ‘emphasis on independent learning ensures that the school provides a stimulating and secure environment’; ‘instills a positive attitude to learning’.

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 excellent 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 excel most especially as people with confidence.

RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Nearly 50% of pupils receive academic, music, sports and all round scholarships to top London day schools and boarding schools when they leave at 11+.

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 SENIOR SCHOOLS

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LONDON SENIOR SCHOOLS

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LONDON SENIOR SCHOOLS

Hampton Court House

ADDRESS: East Molesey, Surrey, KT8 9BS WEBSITE: www.hamptoncourthouse.co.uk FOUNDED: 2001 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 250 AGES: 3–18 FEES: Please check the website HEAD TEACHER: Guy Holloway RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Entrance examination, interview and trial day.

CONTACT: Rachel Bowles, Registrar EMAIL: admissions@hchnet.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Every Wednesday. Contact Registrar for further details on visits, including open days.

THE CURRICULUM: An outstanding curriculum (as described by Ofsted), with subject specialists at all levels. Very strong focus on maths, science and English. National recognition for teaching of French, Spanish and Mandarin.

GAMES & THE ARTS: Throughout the school, from age of 3 to 18, pupils have specialist teachers in sport, art, music, ballet, drama and film-making.

Many scholarships are won in art and photography; numerous students are active in professional productions (West End theatre and film).

PASTORAL CARE: Our school environment is reflective and thoughtful; our first duty of care is to the long-term emotional development of each child, such that they develop a strong sense of self, and the capacity to form trustfilled relationships. Form tutors are key figures in a pupil’s life, but all members of staff are part of a circle of care around each child. Our reflective teachers set the tone for a listening culture which seeks to validate each child’s voice.

UNIVERSITY PLACES: University of Warwick, University of Chicago, University of Oxford and University of Cambridge.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: To create a kinder world by developing scholarly, cultured, reflective minds, alert to opportunity and informed about current affairs. Our school is not ‘rule-bound’ but rather concerns itself with the inner moral development of each child.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: –A scholarly environment, with high academic expectations and excellent results.

–Intellectual staff who are readers and are committed to continual professional development and learning.

–Considered an innovative school by the international and national press.

–Highly-regarded bilingual education in lower years and multilingual staff.

–Rich, intellectual, cultural environment (music, literature and art).

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: £6,690 per term HEAD TEACHER: Mrs Anna Sylvester-Johnson RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Admission at 11 and 16 via entrance examination and interview CONTACT: Miss C Voysey, Registrar, 020 8392 5803 EMAIL: registrar@ibstockplaceschool.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: 9 May 5-7pm, 22 September 9am-12.30pm THE CURRICULUM: Our curriculum is suffused with the five ‘Mindset Aspects’ central to all teaching, pupils’ learning and assessment: clarity; logical thought; initiative; considering consequences of words and actions; persisting against challenges.

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

IPS artists’ work is exhibited by the Royal College of Art. PASTORAL CARE: We maintain an outstanding pastoral programme which monitors each pupil’s development with care, sensitivity and guidance. From Senior 7–10 pupils join vertically tutored House Group for four years, thus building strong relationships between pupils, their Housemaster, two House Tutors and pupils’ families. In PVI (Year 11), pupils are supported by a Tutor and Head of PVI. A Head of Sixth Form and his tutor team provide VI pastoral care.

UNIVERSITY PLACES: 2017: Oxford, St Andrew’s, Durham, Lancaster, UCL, Loughborough, Exeter, Warwick, Leeds, LSE and University of Virginia.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: We attach great importance to developing pupils’ individuality and their regard for tolerance, courtesy and respect. Pupils are able to find their strengths here, whether as the promising musician, the meticulous scholar, the outstanding sportsman or the talented artist. We strive to ensure pupils’ accomplishments reflect their talents and interests.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Co-educational London day school for pupils aged 11 to 18 in a beautiful rus in urbe environment adjacent to Richmond Park. Challenging and inspirational curriculum that extends and stretches. Pupils renowned for creativity, resilience and empathy. Rated ‘Excellent’ by ISI (2015). Shortlisted for TES Secondary school of the year 2018.

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LONDON SENIOR SCHOOLS

John Lyon School

ADDRESS: Middle Road, Harrow on the Hill, HA2 0HN WEBSITE: www.johnlyon.org FOUNDED: 1876 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 600 AGES: 11-18 FEES: £17,130-£17,784 HEAD TEACHER: Miss Katherine Haynes, BA, MEd, NPQH RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: None ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Admission at 11+, 13+ and 16+ via entrance examination and interview.

CONTACT: Ms Rebecca Davies, Registrar, 020 8515 9443 EMAIL: admissions@johnlyon.org SCHOOL VISITS: The School Open Evening takes place on Tuesday 15 May. Places available at School in Action afternoons throughout the year, contact the Registrar for details.

THE CURRICULUM: An extensive I/GCSE and A-level programme is on offer, students have the option of studying towards a Higher Project Qualification at GCSE and the Extended Project Qualification at A-level.

GAMES & THE ARTS: The 25-acre sports site is one of the best in London, with multiple football pitches, cricket squares, an all-weather hockey pitch, tennis courts and pupils can access the Harrow Archery Club, athletics track and golf course. The 25-metre pool, sports hall and fitness studio are based on the main school site with options including basketball, judo, and badminton.

For drama, two fully equipped ‘black box’ studio spaces, a ‘full rig’ in the main hall as well as annual productions at Harrow School’s Ryan Theatre combined with the opportunity to work with professional London drama companies.

PASTORAL CARE: Pastoral care at the school is excellent, parents regularly comment that everyone knows their son’s name, this is a ‘family school’.

Boys benefit from ‘peer mentors’ all of the usual form tutor time that you would expect, as well as access to a school counsellor and nurse. The school’s pastoral care ‘knowing every individual’ ethos creates a sense of community.

UNIVERSITY PLACES: The majority go to Russell Group universities, including Oxford and Cambridge, with a large proportion going on to banking, engineering, law, medicine and sciences.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: At John Lyon, every pupil matters, we are unashamedly academic and our results speak for themselves. The school is a friendly and dynamic place where we foster a love of learning. We offer an ‘all-rounder’ education that embraces opportunity and excellence both inside and beyond the classroom. If you are a John Lyon boy your son will be part of our Lyonian Family and we will help him achieve his goals.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: John Lyon School, with its historic links to Harrow School, dynamic leadership and excellent facilities delivers a well-grounded education in a welcoming atmosphere.

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LONDON SENIOR SCHOOLS

North Bridge House Senior Schools

ADDRESS: Senior Hampstead, 65 Rosslyn Hill, NW3 5UD; Senior Canonbury, 6-9 Canonbury Place, N1 2NQ WEBSITE: www.northbridgehouse.com FOUNDED: 1939 AGES: 11–18 FEES: £17,295 - £18,555 per annum NUMBER OF PUPILS: Hampstead - 320; Canonbury - 180 HEAD TEACHER: Hampstead: Brendan Pavey; Canonbury: Jonathan Taylor RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Assessments and interview.

CONTACT: Admissions office 020 7428 1520 EMAIL: admissionsenquiries@northbridgehouse.com SCHOOL VISITS: Hampstead: 20 & 28 Feb and 6 & 13 March; Canonbury: Please check website for Spring term dates.

Old Palace of John Whitgift

ADDRESS: Old Palace Road, Croydon, Surrey CRO 1AX WEBSITE: www.oldpalace.croydon.sch.uk FOUNDED: 1889 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 700 girls AGES: 4–18 (Nursery: boys & girls 1+ years) FEES: Reception – Year 5: £3,601 - £3,762 p/term; Year 6: £4,438 p/term; Years 7 – 13: £4,890 p/term HEAD TEACHER: Carol Jewell RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Christian ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Entrance exam and interview CONTACT: Mrs Alex Parris EMAIL: admissions@oldpalace.croydon.sch.uk SCHOOL VISITS: 020 8688 2027

THE CURRICULUM: Highly qualified and inspirational teachers deliver a rich and varied range of academic and extra-curricular activities, tailor-made to challenge and stimulate pupils, educating the whole child.

GAMES & THE ARTS: Sports range from the traditional to the unusual (such as sailing) and help develop pupils’ physical and emotional wellbeing as well as essential team work skills. The arts are key to NBH’s curricular and extracurricular offering – with plays and concerts regularly staged.

THE CURRICULUM: Girls at Old Palace receive a first class, values-based education embracing what we call The Four Pillars: service, skills & knowledge, courage and emotional intelligence.

GAMES & THE ARTS: There is a wealth of different sports on offer together with an extensive range of after-school clubs and activities.

Music, drama and dance are an integral part of the curriculum.

PASTORAL CARE: Pupil wellbeing is at the heart of everything here. All teachers are informed and actively committed to the pastoral aspects of school life and, alongside specialist staff, provide a strong system of support.

Pupils are equipped with the skills required to make moral and informed life choices while NBH’s happy community provides a sense of belonging and security.

PASTORAL CARE: We are committed to providing a safe, stimulating and caring environment where each girl is empowered to gain a strong sense of self-worth and purpose through recognition of her own talents and abilities as well as her contribution to the community.

UNIVERSITY PLACES: Students receive offers from a range of universities, typically accepting places at Russell Group institutions.

PERCENTAGE OF OXBRIDGE CANDIDATES: 5-10%

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: North Bridge House provides an individually-tailored education for boys and girls, in an environment that fosters happy and confident pupils, proud of their achievements. We know, support and inspire each individual to achieve their full potential and provide a solid foundation for a successful academic career and adult life.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: All NBH pupils can transition from Nursery to Sixth Form without the added pressure of entrance exams. Later starts for sixth formers as research has shown their sleeping patterns make them less productive early on.

UNIVERSITY PLACES: Predominantly Oxbridge and Russell Group Universities.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: For each girl who comes here, Old Palace will be a key contributor in her development as a compassionate and capable individual, prepared to address the challenges presented to her as she makes her own contribution to society.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Unique setting; not every girls’ school can boast the opportunity to sing cathedral repertoire every week in Croydon Minster, our next door neighbour. We are part of the prestigious Whitgift Foundation; one of the UK’s most generous educational charities. Numerous bursaries and scholarships are available.

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LONDON SENIOR SCHOOLS

Portland Place School

St. Anthony’s School for Girls

ADDRESS: 56-58 Portland Place, London W1B 1NJ WEBSITE: www.portland-place.co.uk FOUNDED: 1996 NUMBER OF PUPILS: Over 300 AGES: 9 – 18 years FEES: £6,840 per term HEAD TEACHER: David Bradbury RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: All faiths welcome ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Selection is based on assessment and interview.

CONTACT: Michelle Botha EMAIL: michelle.botha@portland-place.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: We hold open mornings and Saturday school tours with the Headmaster throughout the year.

ADDRESS: Ivy House, 94-96 North End Road London NW11 7SX WEBSITE: www.stanthonysgirls.co.uk FOUNDED: 2015 NUMBER OF PUPILS: Over 25 AGES: 4-11 FEES: £5,995 per term HEAD TEACHER: Laura Flannery RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Catholic ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Selective. The school has an inclusive policy and all girls’ needs are assessed on entry.

CONTACT: Laura Flannery EMAIL: info@stanthonysgirls.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Termly open days held during weekends. Private

THE CURRICULUM: The curriculum at Portland Place includes all activities which promote the development of pupils’ intellectual, moral, spiritual and physical welfare. Extra curricular activities are designed to enrich students’ lives.

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: Pupils in Years 5 and 6 have PE every day and pupils in Years 7 to 9 four days per week. Compulsory PE is also part of the timetable for Years 10 and 11 students. Fixtures are organised for Sixth Form students and they have membership of a local gym. Art, music, and drama are compulsory subjects in Years 5 to 9. Design technology is compulsory in Years 7 to 9. Drama and music are popular extra-curricular activities.

PASTORAL CARE: All schools have a duty of care to all children. We pride ourselves on the excellent social and emotional nurturing and guidance we provide all our pupils. We have a full time Deputy Head Pastoral who works closely with pupils, parents and teachers.

UNIVERSITY PLACES: The majority of our students secured places at their chosen universities including Russell Group universities.

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, open-minded 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. A place for engaged, lively kids’. 85% of pupils achieved five plus A*-C grades at GCSE level. We were also placed in the top 10% of schools nationally for progress based on Value Added Scores for A-levels.

school tours can be arranged upon request.

GAMES & THE ARTS: The sporting activities available include athletics, swimming, gymnastics, dance and team games. Individual musical tuition is offered in violin, cello, piano, guitar and singing.

LAMDA lessons are available to 7+pupils. Ballet is offered as an extracurricular activity.

PASTORAL CARE: The school prides itself on the high-quality pastoral care on offered. Pupils feel safe, secure and valued as part of the St. Anthony’s family. They are taught the importance of caring for their emotional well-being 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: Two scholarships available, based on academic merit, of 20 per cent of annual school fees.

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

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 them to tailor learning to the needs of each child, therefore enabling success in all curriculum areas; academic, sporting and creative. Fitting in with the needs of parents, they provide wraparound care with a wide range of extra curricular activities held in the mornings, after school and during the school time.

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Sydenham High Senior School

ADDRESS: 19 Westwood Hill, London SE26 6BL WEBSITE: www.sydenhamhighschool.gdst.net FOUNDED: 1887 AGES: 11–18 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 370 girls FEES: £5,417 per term HEAD TEACHER: Mrs Katharine Woodcock RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Entrance exam and interview for Year 7 entry.

CONTACT: Admissions Office 020 8557 7004 EMAIL: admissions@syd.gdst.net SCHOOL VISITS: Open Morning on 13 March 9.30-11.30am - please book online. Bookable year 7 Taster days also available.

THE CURRICULUM: Senior school students study a broad range of academic subjects which develop analytical, creative and lateral thinking skills to build a strong foundation for A-levels and university. IGCSEs are offered in certain subjects and at Sixth Form, in addition to A-levels, we offer the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), which prepares students for the independent learning required at university.

GAMES & THE ARTS: The school offers an extremely varied programme of sport and extra-curricular clubs and activities, including rowing, fencing, trampolining, and rugby, alongside traditional school sports such as hockey and netball. There are choirs, a concert band and musical groups, along with dancers, gymnasts and actors with girls themselves running a number of clubs.

PASTORAL CARE: Our excellent pastoral care and small class sizes ensure no one is allowed to slip through the net. We believe our girls deserve nothing less than the highest standards of educational care in an inclusive environment where they can learn to be independent, resilient and free from the fear of failure.

UNIVERSITY PLACES: Our students aim to exceed expectations and regularly achieve excellent exam results, going on to study at Oxbridge, Russell Group universities, medical school, veterinary school or art collage.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: At Sydenham High we believe in the primacy of the classroom so creating an aspirational environment for our pupils is one of our foremost aims. The provision of a first-class education is paramount, and we strive to ensure that every girl reaches her full potential by overcoming her weaknesses and harnessing her strengths.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: We are a small but high achieving school where self-belief and happiness, alongside a ‘can do’ approach enables our girls to thrive and succeed. A Sydenham High education not only prepares our girls for university and future employment but also gives them the necessary skills and confidence to succeed, prosper and be happy.

Wetherby Senior School

ADDRESS: 100 Marylebone Lane, London W1U 2QU WEBSITE: www.wetherbysenior.co.uk FOUNDED: 2015 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 224 AGES: 11-18 FEES: £7665 per term HEAD TEACHER: Seth Bolderow RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Selective CONTACT: Henry Warner, Director of Admissions or Daniela Simpson, Registrar EMAIL: registrar@wetherbysenior.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: There is an Open Day on Saturday 12 May 11am2pm. Another date will be confirmed for October.

THE CURRICULUM: Through nurturing a genuine enjoyment of learning, intellectual curiosity and academic excellence we aim to develop our pupils into confident and independent learners.

GAMES & THE ARTS: Sport is an important part of the boy’s development and wellbeing, and is a compulsory activity for all boys at Wetherby Senior School. The main sports are Rugby, Football and Cricket with other activities available. Music, Drama and Art are important with a variety of ensembles and dramatic productions put on throughout the year.

PASTORAL CARE: All boys are supported by a tutor throughout their time at the School. We understand that success in all areas of school life and in the future is based on developing the resilience to cope with challenge, the ability to reflect on oneself, learn and the willingness to contribute positively to their community.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: Our goal is to develop the whole boy through a broad educational experience that will enable them to develop their passions and find new ones. The curriculum is not just about the acquisition of knowledge but helping them grow into young men who are adaptable and resilient, creative and collaborative and equipped to continue learning throughout their lives.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: • Academic rigor • Outstanding teaching • Strong pastoral care • A strong community of pupils, staff and parents • A strong sports programme • Opportunities for pupils to express themselves through the arts

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COUNTRY SCHOOLS PREPA R ATORY | SENIOR

Cumnor House, Sussex

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Ashdown House

ADDRESS: Forest Row, East Sussex RH18 5JY WEBSITE: www.ashdownhouse.co.uk FOUNDED: 1843 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 142 AGES: 4–13 FEES: £2,800 (pre-prep), £4,800 (day) and £8,900 (boarding) HEAD TEACHER: Haydon Moore RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Christian. All faiths welcome.

ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Children are invited to spend a day or 24 hours with their peers. Otherwise, informal interview and sight of current/ previous reports.

CONTACT: + 44 1342 822574, secretary@ashdownhouse.com SCHOOL VISITS: ‘Whenever you like’, providing the headmaster’s diary is clear. There is an open day in May. THE CURRICULUM: Chess and Mandarin lessons complement core curriculum subjects. Emphasis is placed on the wider curriculum with visits to the Cothill Trust’s château in France.

GAMES & THE ARTS: All traditional sports. Brilliant music, art and DT departments (frequent scholarships and national competition winners). Each year group performs at least one play a year and school concerts are termly.

PASTORAL CARE: The headmaster and his wife live in the heart of the school and oversee the pastoral side of a busy boarding school with the help of a dedicated team. A good house system encourages healthy competition and we are a school that very much rewards good behaviour.

Small classes ensure that the form teacher knows each child well.

SENIOR EXIT SCHOOLS FOR THE LAST ACADEMIC YEAR: Eton, Harrow, Radley, Wellington, St Edward’s, Stowe, Charterhouse, Abingdon, Bradfield, Haileybury, Hampton, Marlborough, Oundle, Rugby, Tonbridge and Uppingham.

RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Winchester, Eton, Sevenoaks, Bryanston, St Leonard’s Mayfield, Clayesmore, Tudor Hall, Sherborne and Worth.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: Recognition that we need to live together as a community that encourages family values is at the heart of all that we do. Through learning in a fun and friendly environment, children leave the school as confident young people, understanding the importance of tolerance and able to cope with life’s disappointments as well as the triumphs. Friendships are forged for life.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Forty acres of beautiful grounds with hundreds of trees that the children are actively encouraged to climb. Ponies, free range turkeys and chickens and dogs abound. Over half the staff live on site and a busy weekend programme ensures that boarders are fully occupied and happy.

Bedales

ADDRESS: Bedales School, Church Road, Steep, Petersfield GU32 2DG WEBSITE: www.bedales.org.uk FOUNDED: 1893 NUMBER OF PUPILS: Bedales Pre-prep, Dunannie: 86; Bedales Prep, Dunhurst: 195; Bedales Senior School: 468 AGES: 3–8 (Dunannie); 8–13 (Dunhurst); 13–18 (Bedales).

FEES: Nursery: £425–£590 per term; Dunannie: £3,023–£3,867; Dunhurst: Day £5,500 – £6,100; Boarding £8,106; Bedales: Day £9,272; Boarding £11,799 per term.

HEAD TEACHER: Keith Budge RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Main entry points at 2 yrs 9 months, 7+, 8+, 11+, 13+, 16+. Selection by assessment/residential assessment and interview.

CONTACT: 01730 711733/ jjarman@bedales.org.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Open Days, Bedales: 3 February, 3 March & 12 May. Dunhurst: 24 February.

THE CURRICULUM: Students ‘learn through doing’ and take a combination of IGCSEs and our own more interesting and demanding Bedales Assessed Courses (recognised by UCAS). 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, floodlit tennis and netball pitches and indoor swimming pool. The school is acclaimed for its drama, theatre, art and music with lots of opportunities to participate in performances and concerts including overseas tours.

PASTORAL CARE: For pastoral support, every student is assigned to a member of house staff (boarding or day) with whom they build a close and strong relationship. Students are also assigned a tutor, who monitors and guides their academic progress, tailoring the level of support to the individual. Tutor groups (and dormitories) are mixed age, encouraging the sharing of experience across the years. The Bedales system depends on trust and good communication between staff, student and parents.

SCHOLARSHIPS: Scholarships are available from 10+ for Music and Academic, and from 13+ for Art. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: Bedales was founded to be different.

Where other independent boarding schools imposed conformity, we have always nurtured individuality, initiative and an enquiring mind. Our founder, J H Badley, wanted to educate the whole person – ‘head, hand and heart’ and this is still the cornerstone around which our innovative education system is built. Our primary aim is to develop inquisitive thinkers with a love of learning who cherish independent thought.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: – Impressive university destinations including Oxbridge, art college and overseas – Innovation in the curriculum with high academic expectations.

– Strong relationships: students and staff shake hands after assemblies as a way of formalising mutual respect.

– Award-winning timber-clad new Art & Design Building opened in 2016

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Bede’s Prep School at Eastbourne

Bede’s Senior School

ADDRESS: Duke’s Drive, Eastbourne, East Sussex BN20 7XL WEBSITE: www.bedes.org FOUNDED: 1895 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 197 boys, 103 girls (Reception to Year 8) AGES: 3 months–13 years FEES: Nursery from £35 per session. Reception and Years 1–2 £3,310; Years 3–4 £4,540; Years 5–6 £5,450; Years 7–8 £5,625 (all per term).Boarding £2,615 extra per term.

HEAD TEACHER: Mr Giles Entwisle RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Non-selective, interview with headmaster.

CONTACT: Lynette Bonell, 01323 734222 EMAIL: prep.admissions@bedes.org SCHOOL VISITS: Open day 3 March.

ADDRESS: Upper Dicker, Hailsham, East Sussex BN27 3QH WEBSITE: www.bedes.org FOUNDED: 1978 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 450 boys, 300 girls AGES: 13–18 FEES: Day students £7,150 per term; full boarders £11,365 per term; weekly boarding £10,690 per term HEAD TEACHERS: Mr Peter Goodyer RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Children joining from 2018 onwards will attend a Bede’s Experience Day. CONTACT: 01323 843252 EMAIL: admissions@bedes.org SCHOOL VISITS: Open day 10 March.

THE CURRICULUM: Bede’s bespoke and enhanced curriculum focuses upon skills as much as content and encourages curiosity, self-reliance, self-belief and the confidence to ‘have a go’. We see our job as helping our children to discover their talents and to build upon them.

THE CURRICULUM: Over 35 subjects are offered at GCSE and IGCSE and in the sixth-form there are over 40 different courses ranging from Cambridge Pre-Us and traditional A-levels to vocational courses such as Animal Management. BTECs are offered in a range of subjects.

GAMES & THE ARTS: Bede’s recognises achievement at all levels and encourages children to take part and join a sports team.

Facilities are outstanding. The performing arts are a big part of school life, with many performances throughout the year.

GAMES & THE ARTS: All major sports. Academy programmes in football, tennis, hockey and cricket. Five percent of pupils play county or national level sport. Outstanding performing arts.

Probably the best art department in the South East and the school is also home to the Legat School of Dance.

PASTORAL CARE: For boarders, home is a beautiful Victorian villa overlooking the sea. Matron and her team look after the needs of the children, and teachers and tutors are always there to help with any problems.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: ‘I am very proud that Bede’s is a school that encourages children of all talents to pursue their goals. We believe that education begins with the individual and that all children are unique.’

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Bede’s is one of the largest prep schools in Sussex and is blessed with a stunning location on the seafront at Eastbourne. The site has outstanding facilities including sports centre, swimming pool, new science block, new dining hall and classroom block and new, purpose built nursery and pre-prep. At 13 most children move on to Bede’s Senior School, eight miles away and set in 100 acres of rolling Sussex countryside.

PASTORAL CARE: Superb boarding facilities including two new boarding houses opened in 2012. All pupils have their own tutor.

UNIVERSITY PLACES: Over three quarters of pupils achieve their first choice of university places. Other pupils go on to music, drama and dance colleges. A considerable number move on to art college.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: ‘We are ambitious for our pupils, inspiring a self-belief that empowers them and stimulates their natural curiosity. Their enriched learning experience increases their appetite to achieve more because they expect more.’

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Beautiful 100-acre Sussex campus. Exceptional sports facilities including swimming pool, squash courts, fitness centre, cricket pavilion and water-based astro. Outstanding art department. State-of-the-art boarding facilities. Over 40 drama and musical performances each year. Staff student ratio of 1:7. Ranked in the top one per cent of schools nationally for value added at A-level.

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Copthorne Prep

ADDRESS: Effingham Lane, Copthorne, West Sussex RH10 3HR WEBSITE: www.copthorneprep.co.uk FOUNDED: 1902 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 350 boys and girls AGES: 2-13 FEES: Pre-Prep - £2,965 - £3,100; Prep - £4,100 - £5,160; Weekly Boarding - £5,855; Full Boarding - £7,995; Flexi-Boarding offered HEAD TEACHER: Mr Chris Jones RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Age appropriate assessments and report from the head of the pupil’s current school.

CONTACT: Kathryn Billingham-West, Registrar, EMAIL: admissions@copthorneprep.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: October, February, May open mornings. Personal visits all year round by appointment.

THE CURRICULUM: The curriculum includes the traditional core academic subjects as well as French, Spanish and Latin, study skills, chess, forest schools, home economics, DT, art, PE/swimming and games.

GAMES & THE ARTS: The school is very proud of its reputation as one of the leading sporty schools in Sussex and we compete competitively against some much larger schools with success. Art is a very strong department, with a purpose built room and many scholarships obtained to senior schools.

PASTORAL CARE: Our belief is that a happy child is one who can achieve everything they are capable of achieving, whether that be academic, sporting or artistic. In the most recent ISI Inspection, pastoral care was judged to be outstanding and it is the foundation upon which everything else is built.

RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: 21 scholarships in 2017, representing 65% of our Year 8 cohort; to schools such as Brighton College, Whitgift, Reigate Grammar, Christs Hospital, Caterham, Roedean and Lingfield College.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: Copthorne aims to develop children’s confidence, provide opportunity and help them realise their potential, so each and every child is encouraged to ‘be the very best they can be’. As Headmaster it is my responsibility, and my privilege, to ensure that every Copthorne pupil and parent gets the very best experiences and takes away the best memories from our school.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Friendly, family feel with a childcentred education. Early drop-off and late collection are available for 48 weeks a year from age 2. Energy and enthusiasm is everywhere. All this activity creates a strong sense of togetherness and youthful camaraderie and a deep-seated respect for themselves and everything around them.

We escort our weekly boarders to and from London on Friday and Sunday evenings.

Cottesmore School

ADDRESS: Pease Pottage, West Sussex RH11 9AU WEBSITE: www.cottesmoreschool.com FOUNDED: 1894 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 175 AGES: 4-13 FEES: Pre-prep: Reception and Year 1: £3121; Year 2: £3381; Year 3: £4163. Prep: Boarding: £8873; Day Boarding: £5845.

HEAD TEACHER: Tom Rogerson RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Non-selective. Interview with head, previous term’s report and English and maths assessment if necessary CONTACT: Lottie Rogerson EMAIL: rogersonc@cottesmoreschool.com SCHOOL VISITS: Open Mornings: 24 February & 12 May or arrange a private tour.

THE CURRICULUM: The curriculum encompasses a variety of elements, ensuring the experience for pupils is both broad and balanced. The curriculum is viewed as having a great deal of ‘value-added’ quality and reflects the mission statement and aims of the school and has a blend of academic pursuit, artistic and creative endeavour, sporting activities, and personal and social education.

GAMES & THE ARTS: Major games for the boys are football, rugby, hockey and cricket. The girls play hockey, netball and rounders, with some lacrosse. As well as tennis, squash, athletics, swimming, judo, golf, cross country running, short tennis, basketball and shooting.

PASTORAL CARE: The first duty when a child arrives at Cottesmore is to make him or her feel happy, secure and at ease in their new surroundings and to realise that school is an extension of home. To achieve this, they have a welltried system of checks and balances so that children always have someone special they can talk to or confide in.

RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Downe House, Millfield, Winchester, Marlborough, St Edwards, Oxford, Wellington, Cheltenham Ladies’ HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: ‘Quisque pro ingenio’ is Cottesmore’s unofficial motto: ‘everyone has a talent’. Cottesmore will find and nurture each child’s talent and help the individual grow strong in the light of his or her own success. Cottesmore is a school where children are taught to have faith in their own ability in a caring, confidence-inspiring environment.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Cottesmore is a country boarding prep school for boys and girls in West Sussex, less than an hour from London. They provide a train service to London Victoria Station, which is popular with London ‘S.W.’ families. Cottesmore has been preparing children for major public schools since 1894 and continues to provide excellent preparation for senior boarding schools who share Cottesmore’s belief in nurturing a rounded, dynamic individual.

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Cranleigh Preparatory School

ADDRESS: Cranleigh Preparatory School, Horseshoe Lane, Cranleigh, Surrey GU6 8QH WEBSITE: www.cranprep.org FOUNDED: 1913 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 350 AGES: Girls and Boys 7-13 FEES: Boarding: (Forms 3 to 6) £23,430 annually, Day: (Forms 3 to 6) £19,395 annually, Day: (Forms 1 and 2) £14,955 annually HEAD TEACHER: Mr Michael Wilson RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Age appropriate assessments and report from the head of the pupil’s current school.

CONTACT: Head of Admissions EMAIL: admissions@cranprep.org SCHOOL VISITS: Parents are welcome to visit throughout term.

Open Mornings 14 March & 5 May. 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.

RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: 47 scholarships in 2017, 129 scholarships over the last three years to some of the country’s best schools, including Brighton College, Cranleigh, Charterhouse, Eton, KCS Wimbledon, Marlborough, RGS Guildford, Tonbridge, Wellington and Winchester.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: We focus on enabling each child to fulfil their intellectual potential, whilst encouraging them to find real enjoyment, and to seek success from their participation, at whatever level, in the many artistic, cultural and sporting opportunities which the school promotes. We believe that children should grow up with an understanding of the importance of personal responsibility, respect for other people and how to work as part of a team.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: – Set in 40 acres of stunning Surrey countryside, less than 50 minutes from London.

– Outstanding academic results.

– First class sports and music facilities.

– An exceptional art department.

– Unique pastoral care in a wonderfully relaxed, happy and inspirational environment.

Cranleigh School

ADDRESS: Horseshoe Lane, Cranleigh, Surrey GU6 8QQ WEBSITE: www.cranleigh.org FOUNDED: 1865 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 400 boys, 220 girls AGES: 13–18 FEES: Day £9,630, Boarding £11,790 HEAD TEACHER: Mr Martin Reader MA (Oxon), MPhil, MBA RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England; School welcomes pupils of all faiths, and none.

ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Interview, previous school’s report and Common Entrance at 13+, performance at GCSE for Sixth Form CONTACT: Admissions office, 01483 276377 EMAIL: admissions@cranleigh.org SCHOOL VISITS: Families are welcome to look around at any time.

Please contact Cranleigh to arrange a private or group appointment.

THE CURRICULUM: A broad fourth form curriculum leads into an options system allowing ten GCSEs – the ‘core’ subjects, two to three sciences and three to four optional subjects. 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, astroturfs and a golf course. The music school features a wide range of instrumental and vocal ensembles and top-class practice/ performance facilities; drama has its own modern theatre, while outdoor education, Duke of Edinburgh, CCF and canoeing are also popular. Cranleigh has enjoyed several recent National successes in these areas.

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, personal tutors who closely follow their tutees’ progress, deputy heads and chaplain all play a key part in the pupils’ pastoral care.

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.

PERCENTAGE OF OXBRIDGE CANDIDATES: Oxbridge is a focus for many of Cranleigh’s brighter pupils, with impressive results year on year.

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 240-acre setting and outstanding facilities offer an enviable environment in which to develop in both academic and co-curricular spheres. The school 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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Christ’s Hospital

Dover College

ADDRESS: Horsham, West Sussex RH13 0LJ WEBSITE: www.christs-hospital.org.uk FOUNDED: 1552 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 445 boys, 445 girls AGES: 11–18 FEES: Boarding per term £10,930; day per term £5,650–£7,110.

Bursaries and scholarships available.

HEAD TEACHER: Mr Simon Reid RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England, all faiths welcome.

ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Assessment and interview at 11, 13 and 16.

CONTACT: 01403 246555 EMAIL: hello@christs-hospital.org.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Open Mornings are held each term and personal tours can be arranged by contacting the school, 01403 246555.

ADDRESS: Effingham Crescent, Dover, Kent CT17 9RH WEBSITE: www.dovercollege.org.uk FOUNDED: 1871 AGES: 3 – 18 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 297 FEES: Termly Day Fees £2,800-£5,200; Full Boarding £8,000-£10,000.

Weekly boarding is also available.

HEAD TEACHER: Mr Gareth Doodes RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Non-selective CONTACT: Alison Wilson, Director of Admissions 01304 244522 EMAIL: admissions@dovercollege.org.uk SCHOOL VISITS: By appointment through the admissions team

THE CURRICULUM: The academic curriculum offers a mix of GCSEs, A-levels, IB and Pre-U qualifications. The school is unashamedly academic – with 98% of pupils moving on each year to the leading universities in this country and abroad. However, many key lessons are learnt beyond the classroom and Christ’s Hospital’s broader curriculum opportunities are remarkable.

GAMES & THE ARTS: Art, music, drama and sport are all strong and an integral part of school life. Pupils are given the opportunity to participate in an extensive range of activities. These can be enjoyed and played at all levels, from representing the school locally, nationally and internationally, to enjoying a game with friends. Pupils are encouraged to have a go and try new things unearthing new talents,hobbies and interests.

PASTORAL CARE: Strong pastoral care, dedicated and attentive staff.

Boarders and day pupils feel safe, secure and well looked after within the school’s established house system.

UNIVERSITY PLACES: Ninety-eight per cent of pupils each year go to university.

On average 10 per cent go to Oxford or Cambridge. Sixth-form pupils benefit from small classes, highly qualified staff who are passionate about their subjects, weekly lectures given by visiting specialist speakers, an extensive range of subjects, a choice of exams at sixth-form plus individual guidance and support through UCAS the university entry system.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: Christ’s Hospital offers something very distinctive by providing an independent education of the strongest quality to children with academic potential, from every corner of society in a compassionate and sympathetic environment. Pupils’ fees are assessed according to family income. Therefore, it is a child’s ability and potential to benefit from a Christ’s Hospital education that determines their selection.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTIC: By providing first class, free or supported education to talented young people Christ’s Hospital continues to transforms lives in a way that no other educational establishment in the UK can match.

THE CURRICULUM: Diverse, flexible and a large range of subjects at all levels. Creativity and thinking differently are at the heart of our offer.

GAMES & THE ARTS: Performing arts in drama and music are extensively offered outside the curriculum. The games and sport provision is excellent, offering a very wide choice from team to individual sports.

PASTORAL CARE: Excellent. Our house system has a family feel and our environment ensures no one is lost. Pupils are treated with exceptional care and attention. This is a real strength in the school.

UNIVERSITY PLACES: All pupils who apply gain places at the full range of Universities HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: From the Junior to the Senior school, we take pride in encouraging our pupils to think differently, to be ambitious, to develop confidence, to find their passions, and be cared for in an environment that nurtures, supports and focuses on the individual.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: • Exceptional AI care for each pupil in all aspects of their development • EAL and IN provision is available of the highest order • Pupils are encouraged to think differently • A huge range of academic subjects are offered • A large extra-curricular offer is available • Pupils are confident but not arrogant

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Downsend School

Eastbourne College

ADDRESS: 1 Leatherhead Road, Leatherhead Surrey KT22 8TJ WEBSITE: www.downsend.co.uk FOUNDED: 1891 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 707 (279 Pre-Preps). 402 boys, 305 girls AGES: 2-13 yrs (GCSE’s to 16 from 2020) FEES: £3,660 - £4,895 per term HEAD TEACHER: Mr Ian Thorpe RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Non-selective entry into Pre-Prep.

Entrance assessments for Year 3 upwards. Open Days and taster days.

CONTACT: Sarah Concanon, Admissions Registrar EMAIL: admissions@downsend.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Prep School: 2 March & 12 May. Pre-Prep School Open House Week 26 Feb – 2 March & Open Morning 12 May. Private tours are available at all times.

ADDRESS: Old Wish Road, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN21 4JX WEBSITE: www.eastbourne-college.co.uk FOUNDED: 1867 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 365 boys, 246 girls AGES: 13-18 FEES: £22,260 - £34,320 p.a.

HEAD TEACHER: Tom Lawson MA (Oxon) RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Scholarship, Common Entrance or own exam, plus visit at 13+; reports and visits at 16+.

CONTACT: Eve Deacon, admissions, 01323 452323 EMAIL: admissions@eastbourne-college.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Open mornings 3 March and 16 June, 9am-noon.

Individual visits are available during term time. Please contact admissions for further details.

THE CURRICULUM: Children enjoy interactive lessons and are introduced to a varied and specialised curriculum from Year 2 and experience working with specialist teachers in games, music, food technology and textiles. From Year 6 children are taught by subject specialists. Academic focus is geared towards preparation for Common Entrance or Scholarship examinations.

GAMES & THE ARTS: Excellent facilities including cricket, football and rugby pitches; tennis and netball courts, astroturf pitch for hockey, swimming pool and a sports hall and pavilion. Music Suite for orchestras, choirs, jazz & rock bands. Drama room, termly production.

PASTORAL CARE: Each child in Years 2 & 3 has a form teacher who takes them for the majority of their timetabled day. From Year 4, children are set for the core academic lessons. From Year 6, each pupil has a tutor and their relationship is pivotal to a child’s success.

RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: 56 awarded to Downsend pupils in 2017 by Boxhill, CLFS, Epsom College, Reigate Grammar, St John’s and Whitgift.

PERCENTAGE OF OXBRIDGE CANDIDATES: Approximately 20 per cent secure places at Oxbridge each year.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: Downsend is an established, academic preparatory school which is dynamic and contemporary. We provide each child with a broad education, through experiencing a vibrant school life that extends beyond the classroom, and provides outstanding academic development. We encourage our pupils to become well-rounded individuals in a modern society.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Pupils are encouraged to become confident, articulate and happy individuals. We have an impressive record of success at 13+ examinations; first-rate facilities; a large range of extracurriculars and extended day care as well as a holiday care programme outside normal term time, offering 50-week care to the children of working parents.

THE CURRICULUM: The curriculum offers 25 different GSCE options and a bespoke sixth form curriculum. Alongside the academic subjects, a life and learning skills programme is run to develop in young people the life skills to become tomorrow’s successful, responsible, caring adults.

GAMES & THE ARTS: The school day allows our boarders and day pupils to enjoy the widest possible range of opportunities in sport, music, drama and a whole host of extracurricular activities.

PASTORAL CARE: Pupils’ lives at Eastbourne are centred on their houses and boys and girls find themselves very much part of a house community. In both boarding and day houses, pupils receive the unstinting support of a housemaster or housemistress.

UNIVERSITY PLACES: Over 70% of pupils go on to Russell Group universities every year.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: Great emphasis is placed on key values and relationship-building, which the headmaster believes to be central to the lives of every member of the College community and which will endure long after a pupil moves on from the College.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: – The school is a community rather than an institution with pupils and their parents being fully involved in a rich and varied school life of the College.

– Superb academic results.

– Only 90 minutes from London, stunningly situated on the edge of a civilised town centre, minutes from the sea and the glorious South Downs.

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Guildford High School

ADDRESS: London Road, Guildford, Surrey GU1 1SJ WEBSITE: www.guildfordhigh.surrey.sch.uk FOUNDED: 1888 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 980 (with approx 290 in the junior school) AGES: 4–18 girls FEES: Junior school £3,392–4,452; Senior school £5,504 per term HEAD TEACHER: Mrs Fiona Boulton, BSc Hons University College Cardiff, MA London

ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Guildford High School Entrance Assessments at 4+, 7+, 11+ and 16+.

CONTACT: Mrs Helen Moffat, Director of Admissions, 01483 543 853 EMAIL: guildford-admissions@guildfordhigh.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Regular visitors’ mornings year round. Check website or with admissions for further details.

THE CURRICULUM: The rich, exciting curriculum is designed to encourage girls to think for themselves, to develop intellectual curiosity and a passion for learning. Separate sciences, two modern foreign languages plus a classical language are included in the core curriculum, which is enhanced with subjects such as philosophy and electronic art.

GAMES & THE ARTS: GHS has a strong reputation for sporting success and superb, purpose-built facilities. Over 50 musical ensembles cater for all abilities and dramatic and artistic life is vibrant and enthusiastically participated in by many girls.

PASTORAL CARE: Form tutors, heads of year and the deputy head of pastoral ensure that girls enjoy school life as part of a supportive, considerate community where individual talents and potential are nurtured.

UNIVERSITY PLACES: Outstanding A-level results coupled with comprehensive guidance throughout the university application process enable girls to secure their first choice places on the most competitive courses at the most widely respected universities.

PERCENTAGE OF OXBRIDGE CANDIDATES: Approximately 20 per cent secure places at Oxbridge each year.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: Our aim is to provide a school community in which the girls are happy, feel positive about themselves and are truly able to maximise their potential.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: GHS, named The Sunday Times Independent School of the Year 2012-13, The Sunday Times Independent Prep School of the Year 2015-16 and The Sunday Times Southeast Independent Secondary School of the Year 2017-18, offers an exciting environment for girls to develop academically and personally. From outstanding academic results to stunning achievements in extracurriculars, girls leave as creative and confident individuals, well-equipped to achieve their dreams.

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Highfield and Brookham Schools

ADDRESS: Highfield Lane, Liphook, Hampshire GU30 7LQ WEBSITE: www.highfieldschool.org.uk FOUNDED: 1907 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 262 boys, 232 girls AGES: 3–13 FEES: Brookham Pre-Prep £3,600 – £4,800 per term; Highfield Prep (Day) £6,075 – £6,950; (Boarding) £7,675 – £8,425 per term HEAD TEACHERS: Mr Phillip Evitt, Highfield School; Mrs Sophie Baber, Brookham School RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Nursery and reception non-selective, assessed entry for later years subject to space.

CONTACT: Caroline Lukic, Admissions Registrar, 01428 728000 EMAIL: headspa@highfieldschool.org.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Open Days in Feb, May and Sept, or call to arrange.

THE CURRICULUM: Broad, stimulating and highly creative. Strong emphasis on cross-curricular and outdoor learning, including Forest School, provides for all styles of learner. We aim to develop enthusiastic, enquiring, rounded and adaptable independent thinkers who will recognise that learning is both a joy and lifelong.

GAMES & THE ARTS: Sport, drama, music, design technology and art all enjoy generous provision in the timetable, providing every pupil with the opportunity to explore and develop their talents and interests.

PASTORAL CARE: At the heart of our schools is the awareness that personal happiness and well-being is the right of every child and essential for personal and intellectual development and growth.

SENIOR EXIT SCHOOLS FOR THE LAST ACADEMIC YEAR: Highfield has a flawless track record for securing every child’s place at their first choice senior school; Eton, Winchester, Charterhouse, Wellington, Wycombe Abbey, Marlborough, Canford, Sherborne Girls, King’s Canterbury to name a few.

RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Winchester, Wellington, Marlborough, Charterhouse, Canford, Bryanston, Sherborne Girls, Sherborne, Bedales.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: Schools must be places of joy, wonder, enchantment and delight where learning is a pleasure; stimulating, challenging and exciting. Above all childhood and school should be secure and fun.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Charming country Prep and Pre Prep Boarding and Day Schools set in sumptuous 175-acre grounds on the Hampshire/Surrey/Sussex borders. The Schools enjoy an outstanding reputation for innovation, creativity, pastoral care and academic success. Enviable facilities include extensive sports pitches, an indoor swimming pool, music school and art school.

King’s Rochester

ADDRESS: Satis House, Boley Hill, Rochester, Kent ME1 1TE WEBSITE: www.kings-rochester.co.uk FOUNDED: 604 AD NUMBER OF PUPILS: 630 AGES: 3–18 FEES: From £9,840 - £18,700 per annum HEAD TEACHERS: Mr Jeremy Walker RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Selective, means tested CONTACT: Registrar 01634 888590 EMAIL: admissions@kings-rochester.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: 24 February & 12 May.

THE CURRICULUM: A wide choice of languages, arts, humanities and science subjects are complemented with an extensive co-curricular programme to provide a strong base for GCSE and A-level options.

GAMES & THE ARTS: New sports centre plus playing fields, swimming pool and boathouse. New drama studio with latest digital sound and light equipment and part of the RSC Learning network. Musical strength from cathedral choir. Students perform regionally and nationally in all areas.

PASTORAL CARE: The school is privileged to use Rochester Cathedral as its school chapel and an active chaplaincy works across the school supporting the whole community. Small size forms are placed within the house system and tutors move with the pupils up the year groups, supported by the pastoral deputy head, boarding house mistresses and tutors, school nurses and designated safeguarding leads for holistic care.

UNIVERSITY PLACES: Universities of their choice, plus leading art institutions and conservatoires.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: We offer an all-round education with academic, artistic, musical and sporting excellence all achieved within a caring pastoral atmosphere. Most importantly we develop strong personal characteristics and a good sense of values which make the greatest difference in life. King’s is a community that enables individuals to flourish.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: • Second oldest school in the UK, offering traditional co-ed British education in a historic setting • Boarding available from 11 • A cathedral choir school with a high standard of music performance • Extensive sports facilities • Small class sizes within a happy and welcoming environment • The Old Roffensian network assists future job opportunities through its bespoke website

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LEARNING THROUGH CURIOSITY

Co-ed • Day (3 to 18) • Boarding (14 to 18) • Diverse student body with 57 nationalities

57 nationalities Open MorningCo-ed • Day (3 to 18) • Boarding (14 to 18) • Diverse student body with Coldharbour Lane, Thorpe, Surrey TW20 8TE

Saturday 17th March, 9:30 – 1:00 Visit our website to book your place now! www.tasisengland.org/visit

Coldharbour Lane, Thorpe, Surrey TW20 8TE Tel: 01932 582316 Email: openmorning@tasisengland.org

Tel: 01932 582316 Email: openmorning@tasisengland.org

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Parkside School

ADDRESS: The Manor, Stoke D’Abernon, Cobham, Surrey KT11 3PX WEBSITE: www.parkside-school.co.uk FOUNDED: 1879

NUMBER OF PUPILS: 305

AGES: 2-13 years, 2-4 years co-ed, 4-13 years boys FEES: £432 - £5,150 HEAD TEACHER: Mr Mark Beach RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: All faiths welcome ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Entrance assessment and assessment day CONTACT: Mrs Alison Scott, registrar 01932 862749 EMAIL: office@parkside-school.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: By prior appointment or open morning. Next Open Morning Friday 11 May. THE CURRICULUM: Parkside aims to provide a stimulating environment to ensure pupils thrive in their academic development throughout and beyond their school life. We seek to expand our pupils’ aspirations and their intellectual curiosity and interest in new ideas.

GAMES & THE ARTS: Music, drama and art are an integral part of the curriculum and offer boys a variety of opportunities to demonstrate individual talents and interests. Sport is an important aspect of school life at the school and our aim is to help each boy achieve his maximum sporting potential.

Royal Grammar School, Guildford

ADDRESS: High Street, Guildford, Surrey GU1 3BB WEBSITE: www.rgs-guildford.co.uk FOUNDED: 1509 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 940 boys AGES: 11–18 FEES: £5,865 per term (plus £274 per term for lunches). A number of means-tested bursaries are available.

HEAD TEACHER: Dr Jon Cox RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Admissions at 11, 13 and 16 – via exam and interview.

CONTACT: Mrs Kathryn Sweet, Head of Admissions, 01483 880600 EMAIL : admissions@rgsg.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Open Day on the first Saturday in October, but the school welcomes group visits in the Michaelmas and Trinity terms.

THE CURRICULUM: Our diverse and flexible curriculum caters to our students who are naturally engaged, motivated and curious. The boys consistently achieve outstanding results at IGCSE, GCSE and A-level; however, the school nurtures habits and attitudes which will allow them not only to flourish at university but also to face a challenging, fast-changing world with confidence.

GAMES & THE ARTS: The school has a strong reputation, excellent facilities and recognises achievement at all levels. Boys regularly gain sporting honours at both a national and international level; music, art and drama all flourish.

PASTORAL CARE: At the core of Parkside’s pastoral care is the development of individual self-esteem and confidence alongside a sound moral code. As a school, we feel it is our responsibility to encourage boys to become young men who are civilised, tolerant and compassionate.

PASTORAL CARE: Respect and tolerance are at the heart of the school’s philosophy. The outstanding pastoral care enables the boys to thrive in an environment in which they feel safe, valued and able to express themselves.

RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Many boys have been awarded academic scholarships to Reed’s School, St John’s, Lancing College and Box Hill School.

that boys are successful in achieving places at their first-choice institutions to read traditional, robust degree subjects.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: Parkside provides an education that allows the boys to make the most of their abilities, interests and talents and progress onto senior schools as confident and independent individuals, with a joy of learning. We seek to develop children academically, socially and physically, while drawing out their capacity for compassion, generosity and understanding.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Set in over 45 acres of beautiful grounds on the outskirts of Cobham the school provides a stimulating environment in which boys can learn, grow and develop. At Parkside we believe that children learn best when they are happy, active and challenged. We are uniquely geared to being able to accept children at a variety of ages and deliver them effectively to a range of senior schools, confident and well-prepared for their future.

UNIVERSITY PLACES: Comprehensive, individually tailored advice ensures

PERCENTAGE OF OXBRIDGE CANDIDATES: An average of 25 per cent; there have been 350 offers in the last decade, including 30 offers for 2017.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: The RGS has a national reputation for academic excellence but also prides itself on its traditional values of decency and respect, supported by very strong pastoral care. Each individual enjoys learning in an environment that allows natural potential to be realised.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Quotations from the last inspection report include: ‘The pastoral care from which pupils benefit is excellent, offering outstanding support’; ‘Self-esteem is strengthened by the school’s emphasis on valuing each pupil as an individual’; ‘Pupils achieve at an exceptionally high level and make outstanding progress’; ‘Achievements in creative, physical and performance skills are exceptional’.

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Sevenoaks School

Sevenoaks Prep School

ADDRESS: High Street, Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 1HU WEBSITE: www.sevenoaksschool.org FOUNDED: 1432 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 1,080 fully co-ed AGES: 11–18 FEES: Day £7,485-£8,499 per term; boarding £11,955-£12,969 per term HEAD TEACHER: Dr Katy Ricks DPhil RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Interdenominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Admissions at 11, 13 and 16 via exam and interview.

CONTACT: Mrs Arabella Stuart, director of admissions, 01732 467703 EMAIL: regist@sevenoaksschool.org SCHOOL VISITS: Open Mornings, 17 March and 16 June. Individual visits by appointment.

ADDRESS: Godden Green, Sevenoaks, Kent TN15 0JU WEBSITE: www.theprep.org.uk FOUNDED: 1919 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 385 AGES: 2–13 FEES: Nursery and Kindergarten: From £350 per session per term; Reception £9,960; Years 1 and 2 £11,400; Year 3 to 8 £13,800 HEAD TEACHER: Mr Luke Harrison RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England but accept all faiths ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Non-selective CONTACT: Mrs Clare Harrison EMAIL: admissions@theprep.org.uk SCHOOL VISITS: The school is open to visits and tours any day during term time.

THE CURRICULUM: Sevenoaks aims to ensure that all pupils fulfil their academic potential. Pupils take GCSEs and IGCSEs in Year 11, and for some subjects take the Sevenoaks School Certificate. The sixth-form all study the International Baccalaureate, a rigorous two year course designed to provide a broad, balanced education, recognised as a qualification for university entry in the UK and overseas.

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 debating and critical thinking.

GAMES & THE ARTS: Pupils regularly achieve honours at rugby, cricket, hockey, netball, cross-country, basketball, sailing, shooting and tennis.

There is a strong emphasis on music, drama and art, and a world-class performing arts centre, The Space. Chamber music is a particular strength.

PASTORAL CARE: Pastoral care is provided by a team of tutors and divisional heads, who provide guidance and support to pupils which is in addition to the care pupils receive in the classroom.

UNIVERSITY PLACES: Over 90 per cent of our sixth-form leavers go to their first choice university. All receive individual attention from the higher education department and general guidance from tutors.

OXBRIDGE CANDIDATES: Between 30 and 50 offers each year.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: Each Sevenoaks student is unique; they are educated in an aspirational and encouraging environment, where all can develop and express individual talents and interests.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Sevenoaks combines 600 years of heritage with a modern, forward-thinking approach. We set impressive academic standards and are proud of our lively, talented pupils and committed, highly qualified teachers. We have taught the IB since 1978, offering academic rigour and breadth – encouraging critical thinking, crosscultural understanding and co-curricular excellence.

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 believe that sport is for all. We enjoy excellent facilities on our 25 acre site. 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 their Golden Rules.

RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: In 2017, all our leavers gained places in their senior schools of choice, including some with academic, sport or music scholarships and exhibitions.

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, amongst 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 way of life - an ethos that encourages pupils to be responsible, kind and empathetic.

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Rowan Prep School

ADDRESS: Rowan Brae (2-7yrs), Gordon Rd, Claygate KT10 0PJ. Rowan Hill (7-11yrs) Fitzalan Rd, Claygate KT10 0LX WEBSITE: www.rowanprepschool.co.uk FOUNDED: 1936 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 330 AGES: 2-11 FEES: Per term: £3622 - £4806 HEAD TEACHER: Mrs Susan Clarke, BEd, NPQH RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Non-selective with entry at Nursery, Reception and Year 3. Occasional places in other year groups.

CONTACT: Mrs Drake, Registrar EMAIL: school.registrar@rowanprepschool.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Open mornings are held each term with showrounds at the school’s discretion. 22 Feb and 10 May 18 – 9.30am-11.30am.

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 and adventurous learning and a specialist teaching model.

GAMES & THE ARTS: ‘Sports for All’ is our mantra and with over 95% of girls learning an instrument, taking part in choirs, musical theatre, drama and dance; Arts and Games are all inclusive. Outstanding facilities include an astro for hockey, netball and tennis courts and fields for athletics, cricket and rounders.

St Andrew’s Prep

ADDRESS: Meads, Eastbourne, BN20 7RP WEBSITE: www.standrewsprep.co.uk FOUNDED: 1877 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 373 AGES: 9 months to 13 years FEES: Reception to Year 8 (per term) £3,245 to £5,645 Full boarding fee (per term) £8,085 Please enquire for Nursery fees.

HEAD TEACHER: Gareth Jones MEd, BA (Hons), PGCE RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Christian ethos ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Non-selective CONTACT: Registrar in Admissions on 01323 733203 EMAIL: admissions@standrewsprep.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Open Mornings 23 & 24 February and 28 April.

Individual visits also available. Please contact admissions.

THE CURRICULUM: A St Andrew’s education is about stimulating the imagination, creativity and inventiveness of every pupil while equipping them with the essential qualities of self-discipline, resilience, honesty, kindness and compassion. Put succinctly, they are inspiring modern minds.

GAMES & THE ARTS: St Andrew’s is about including everyone in everything, whatever their ability or strength. Every child is in a sports team and takes part in music, DT and art and all children can be in the drama production.

PASTORAL CARE: At Rowan we believe it is important that when thinking about the happiness and wellbeing of our girls, we do not concentrate on only making them simply feel good all of the time, but to think about them living well. Our aim is to develop their understanding of how to feel, think and act well so that they become well-rounded people who are empathetic, have good relationships with others and flourish in life.

PASTORAL CARE: The Prep school has introduced a weekly Mind Matters session so that every pupil improves their resilience and becomes more compassionate and a better listener. The school works hard to ensure each child feels important and cared for through the formal pastoral system and informally through the positive relationships the children are encouraged to build with each other and the adults in the school.

RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Guildford High, KGS, LEH, St Catherine’s, Surbiton, SWPS and Tormead.

RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: 48 scholarships awarded to top public schools by year 8 leavers in the last two years.

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.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: We value childhood as the most important stage in one’s life; when social development through friendship and play is as important as academic development within the classroom. We provide a healthy education, both mentally and physically, and open doors to young minds allowing them to reach high standards and discover tomorrow, today

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: - Excellent ISI Inspection 2017 - Outstanding facilities including specialist spaces for engineering and technology, music, science, library, art and computing - 100% success at 11+ with every girls offered a school of her choice - Access to over 20 acres of woodland for adventurous, outdoor learning - A priority on developing leaders for the future with a thriving Student Council, leaders programme and house system - Hic Feliciter Laboramus – Here we work happily

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: - St Andrew’s Prep seeks to inspire modern minds for a fast-changing world - Headmaster’s Award to nurture confidence and independence, develop a breadth of interest and create a stronger sense of community - A beacon of excellence in music, drama, rugby and girls’ hockey - Each week, lessons take place on the beach or in the school’s unique Forest School - New sports hall and dance studio

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St Catherine’s, Bramley

Twyford School

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) FEES: Day £5,965 per term, Boarding £9,830 per term AGES: 4–18 HEAD TEACHER: Mrs Alice Phillips M.A. Cantab RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: By St Catherine’s own entrance examination at 11+ CONTACT: Registrar, 01483 899609, admissions@stcatherines.info SCHOOL VISITS: Wednesday 7 March, Friday 4 May & Monday 25 June.

ADDRESS: Twyford, Winchester, Hampshire SO21 1NW WEBSITE: www.twyfordschool.com FOUNDED: 1793 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 410 AGES: 3–13 FEES: Day: £1,889-£6,314 per term; Weekly boarding (from Year 4) £7,946 per term (flexi boarding options available).

HEAD TEACHER: Dr Steve Bailey RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Christian ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: School’s own testing CONTACT: Mandy Parker, Pre-Prep Secretary or Susie Bellasis, School Secretary 01962 712269 EMAIL: registrar@twyfordschool.com SCHOOL VISITS: February and October open mornings. Personal tours by appointment year round.

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 a wide variety of A-level subjects in the sixth-form, providing girls with a perfect platform for higher education choices. Thinking Skills and a PPPE programme, plus regular lecture slots complement the curriculum. All pupils have iPads.

GAMES & THE ARTS: The Anniversary Halls provides exceptional facilities.

These 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. Teams include lacrosse, netball, rounders, tennis, squash and gymnastics. Own dance school.

PASTORAL CARE: Six school houses underpin the pastoral provision. Tutor groups are small, helping girls feel valued by the staff. ‘House spirit’ is strong as is a huge sense of fun and loyalty to the school and each other.

UNIVERSITY PLACES: St Catherine’s girls go on to study at some of the most prestigious universities in the UK and beyond.

PERCENTAGE OF OXBRIDGE CANDIDATES: 15 per cent on average.

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: The most recent ISI Report found St Catherine’s pupils’ attitudes to learning to be exemplary and that pupils enjoy a strong rapport with their teachers and peers. Teachers create an ambiance of encouragement in which learning thrives. By the time girls leave school, they are able to think critically, have high aspirations and the selfbelief that there are few things they cannot achieve.

THE CURRICULUM: Our curriculum provides challenge and excitement. In Pre-Prep the emphasis is on the core subjects plus French, religious studies, physical education, history, PSHE, geography, ICT, music, drama, art and design. In the Prep School these subjects continue, with Latin added in Year 5.

GAMES & THE ARTS: Twyford has excellent sports facilities including an indoor swimming pool and Astroturf. Art and design takes place in light, spacious studios. The drama department holds numerous large-scale productions and offers tuition for English Speaking Board and LAMDA exams.

PASTORAL CARE: At Twyford, we provide a modern, day and flexi-boarding experience, which is tailored to the needs of the children. The boarding house provides a safe, fun, family orientated and comfortable environment for your child to develop holistically.

RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: In 2017, Twyford pupils were awarded 13 scholarships by senior schools.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: Twyford not only prepares pupils for senior schools, but more importantly, provides them with skills and knowledge to be fine citizens in the modern world whilst embracing traditional values.

Pupils leave enriched, both spiritually and intellectually, with an ability to think and work independently, with respect for others and the environment.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Twyford offers a first rate, broad education in beautiful surroundings where fresh air and hearty activity are cherished. A family school in the truest sense: welcoming community with many families of two or three (and more) children here.

Through an appropriate blend of tradition and modernity, we encourage our children to build their learning power and lifelong habits of tolerance, honesty, kindness, moral courage and creativity.

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Walthamstow Hall Junior School

ADDRESS: Bradbourne Park Road, Sevenoaks TN13 3LD WEBSITE: www.walthamstow-hall.co.uk FOUNDED: 1838 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 200 AGES: 3-11 FEES: Nursery £305 per session per term; Reception to Year 2 £3,790 per term; Year 3 – 6 £4,780 per term HEAD TEACHER: Miss Stephanie Ferro, MA (Oxon), MA (Lond) RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Christian non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: All girls attend a taster day where they are assessed, this includes test papers from Year 3 – Year 6.

CONTACT: Mrs Alex Knight, Registrar 01732 451 334 EMAIL: registrar@whall.school SCHOOL VISITS: Please contact Mrs Knight to arrange a visit.

THE CURRICULUM: ‘The Junior School curriculum is wide ranging and well balanced.’ ISI ‘Pupils receive a high quality education from a very committed team of staff, ISI. 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: Ours is a friendly, secure and nurturing learning environment. ‘A caring and nurturing school,’ The Good Schools Guide.

‘At all stages the personal development of pupils is excellent. They are confident and articulate young people, with a well-developed sense of right and wrong and a high degree of emotional maturity,’ ISI. RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: On average, 19% of leavers gain scholarships, mainly to Walthamstow Hall Senior or Sevenoaks School.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: ‘The belief that each of our students, given the right opportunity and encouragement, can go on to achieve amazing things, is central to everything we do.’ ‘The effectiveness of the school’s leadership and management is reflected in the high quality of the education, care and personal development of the pupils; they are happy and they achieve very well,’ ISI. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: - 2 parallel, optimum-sized classes from Reception to Year 6 - Specialised teaching facilities for young pupils include a science lab, art and DT room, music block and EYFS classrooms. New dining hall opened in 2014 - Use of Walthamstow Hall Senior School facilities includes weekly swimming - ‘Pupils benefit from much individual attention and assistance, both in and out of the classroom’ ISI

Walthamstow Hall, Sevenoaks

ADDRESS: Holly Bush Lane, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN13 3UL WEBSITE: www.walthamstow-hall.co.uk FOUNDED: 1838 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 425 AGES: 11–18 FEES: Senior School & Sixth Form £6,460 per term HEAD TEACHER: Miss Stephanie Ferro, MA (Oxon), MA (Lond) RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Christian non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Selective entrance examinations and interview at 11+, 13+ and 16+.

CONTACT: Mrs Alex Knight, Registrar EMAIL: registrar@whall.school SCHOOL VISITS: Open morning Thursday 8 March 10.00 - 12noon 10am - 12.15pm. Book a place 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. Girls study IGCSE, A-level and Cambridge Pre-U. 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. Ranked as 22nd most successful independent school for sport 2017 by School Sport magazine. ‘Achievement in extra-curricular activities is excellent and varied’ ISI. 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’ ISI Report.

UNIVERSITY PLACES: Typically over 95% of students go to university, the majority to their first choice and and over 75% to Russell Group.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: The belief that each of our students, given the right opportunity and encouragement, can go on to achieve amazing things, is central to everything we do. ‘The effectiveness of the school’s leadership and management is reflected in the high quality of the education, care and personal development of the pupils; they are happy and they achieve very well’ ISI. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTIC: Inspiring teaching, wonderful facilities (new Sixth Form Centre opening Autumn 2017), the close partnerships that exist between parents, staff and girls and a shared sense of pride in our history and achievements lie at the heart of our success.

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Westbourne House

Worth School

ADDRESS: Coach Road, Chichester, West Sussex, PO20 2BH WEBSITE: www.westbournehouse.org FOUNDED: 1907 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 410 AGES: 2 ½ - 13 FEES: £3,480 (Reception), £7,315 (Weekly Boarding), £8,035 (Full Boarding) HEAD TEACHER: Mr Martin Barker BA (Ed) RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Non-selective CONTACT: Ms Aline Pilcher, admissions officer, 01243 782739 EMAIL: admissions@westbournehouse.org SCHOOL VISITS: Contact admissions for private tours and chat with headmaster or visit website for group tours and family fun days.

ADDRESS: Paddockhurst Road, Turners Hill, West Sussex RH10 4SD

THE CURRICULUM: Designed to be holistic and stimulating, it’s an unforgettable journey of discovery: ceramics, science experiments, field trips, drama, kayaking, poetry, music. Plus our innovative English and maths programmes establish deep understanding.

GAMES & THE ARTS: We make time for ambitious drama productions, are passionate about sport and believe in musical opportunities for all. Enjoyment is key and each child enjoys a tailor-made experience. There are endless opportunities for each child to shine and excellence is cultivated.

PASTORAL CARE: There is a strong sense of family and community here.

Children have a comprehensive network of support including the head teachers, teachers, form tutors, pastoral staff and house parents. Our sector-leading wellbeing programme includes lessons and practical experience in leadership, learning for life (wellbeing strategies), friends (peer mentoring) and mindfulness.

Charity work, cultural opportunities and trips are also part of the curriculum.

SENIOR EXIT SCHOOLS: Pupils go on to the country’s premier schools including: Brighton College, Bryanston, Canford, Charterhouse, Downe House, Eton, Harrow, Marlborough, Millfield, Radley, Sherborne, Sherborne Girls, Wellington, Winchester and Wycombe Abbey.

RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Up to 34 each year, including Academic, Art, Drama, Music, Sport and All Rounder.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: ‘We give children the best of both worlds: an idyllic childhood, with opportunities for independence and adventure in 100 acres of beautiful parkland at the foot of the South Downs, uniquely coupled with an outstanding holistic education. Our exceptional staff enable every child to become confident, resilient and achieve their best.’

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Westbourne House is a big school with a small school feel. Children thrive in the secure, friendly environment we offer. We hire talented teachers to give children the best chance to experience the joy of learning. Our pupils are known for becoming great all-rounders with well-developed characters.

WEBSITE: www.worthschool.org.uk NUMBER OF PUPILS: 590

FOUNDED: 1933

AGES: 11–18

FEES: £5,140 – £10,700 per term HEAD TEACHER: Mr Stuart McPherson RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Roman Catholic ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Broadly selective. Online tests, activity/ interview day plus scholarship assessments.

CONTACT: Mrs Lucy Garrard, Registrar EMAIL: admissions@worth.org.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Open days, taster days and individual private visits.

THE CURRICULUM: A broad liberal curriculum to inspire a love of learning and intellectual curiosity. A-level or IB available in the Sixth Form, pre-IB also offered.

GAMES & THE ARTS: Pupils achieve top honours, including Olympic medals. Staff coaches have also played at the highest level professionally.

The school is known for excellence in music, such as its Abbey Choir and for drama/musicals with at least three productions each year.

PASTORAL CARE: Every pupil belongs to a house under the leadership of a housemaster or housemistress who has overall responsibility for pastoral care. Every pupil also has a tutor with whom they meet regularly, formally and informally, to review progress and to address issues raised through the extensive SMSC programme. Each house also has a chaplain, and every boarding house has a matron and assistant matron who provide further invaluable pastoral support.

UNIVERSITY PLACES: Leading UK and international universities, including Oxbridge, Brown and NYU. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: Worth is a place where we seek to uncover and ignite children’s passions and talents. The path a life takes often begins at school, and this is why we do not just provide education, we offer learning with heart and soul, and this gives Worth a difference that sets us apart.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: – Caring community based on the Benedictine tradition – Stunning 500-acre location in the Sussex countryside – Academically ambitious with IB and A-level offered in the Sixth Form – Huge range of extra-curricular activities – Outstanding reputation for music, art and drama – Growing reputation for top-level sports

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The Beacon School

Caldicott School

ADDRESS: Chesham Bois, Amersham, Buckinghamshire, HP6 5PF WEBSITE: www.beaconschool.co.uk FOUNDED: 1933 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 530 AGES: 4-13 FEES: £3,750 - £5,600 per term HEAD TEACHER: Mr William T Phelps MA RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Selective. Informal assessment for Reception – Year 2. Year 3 onwards, verbal and non-verbal reasoning tests.

CONTACT: Mrs J Baines, Registrar EMAIL: admissions@beaconschool.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Can be arranged on request. Annual open days in October, February and May.

ADDRESS: Crown Lane, Farnham Royal, Bucks SL2 3SL WEBSITE: www.caldicott.com FOUNDED: 1904 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 275 boys AGES: 7–13 FEES: Years 7-8 (Boarding) - £8,874 per term; Years 5-6 (Day) £6,019 per term; Years 3-4 (Day) - £5,395 per term HEAD TEACHER: Theroshene Naidoo (Acting Head), Jeremy Banks (Starting April 2018) RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Age dependent, short assessment in

THE CURRICULUM: The Beacon has been at the forefront of the development of the Prep School Baccalaureate. The focus is on traditional academics blended with innovation and creativity from Early Years to Year 8.

THE CURRICULUM: We are a strong academic school with an excellent record in preparing boys for scholarships and Common Entrance to top UK public schools and strive continuously to maintain and uphold this reputation.

GAMES & THE ARTS: Enriching physical education curriculum focusing on a number of sports and activities designed to encourage physical development and progress. Strong, award-winning performing and creative arts programme with high music and drama participation across age groups, including stage lighting and sound.

GAMES & THE ARTS: We have an excellent reputation for sport, and our facilities are second-to-none. Music, art and drama also hold a high profile within the school, and are valued as a significant part of life in the community and boys all-round education.

PASTORAL CARE: Well-being is one of the key values of Beacon life. Dedicated School Counsellor available for all and regular parental communication encouraged.

Small class sizes promote family ethos within sections of the school and Early Years pupils have their own building and adventure playground to encourage family atmosphere. Emphasis is on building resilience and encouraging the adventurous spirit within a safe and supportive community.

RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Academic, music and sporting scholarships to Radley, Wellington, Marlborough and others.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: Qualifications alone do not distinguish outstanding young men. It is not individual activities, but the way in which we weave them together. We call this ‘modern fluencies’. We develop ‘fluencies’ in every Beacon boy. Pupils leave us with the strength and determination to translate their ideas into reality.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: • Modern music and performing arts facilities, including 2 theatres • Range of sports and activities on offer for all abilities • Scholarships’ programme for boys keen on additional academic rigour • Emphasis on well-being for all pupils, parents and staff • Innovative academic programme designed to encourage inquiring minds • Brand new dining facilities and top-class menus on offer to encourage global culinary adventures

English, maths and problem solving prior to entry.

CONTACT: Mrs Jan Kemp, 01753 649301, registrar@caldicott.com SCHOOL VISITS: Individual tours of the school available, please contact the registrar to book. Open Morning: Saturday 9 June.

PASTORAL CARE: Pupils first, systems second, is our way at Caldicott and boys’ well-being is our main concern. At Caldicott, teachers listen, encourage and support all boys in a warm and open atmosphere. We allow for variation and personality and are always challenging our boys to do their very best.

SENIOR EXIT SCHOOLS FOR THE LAST ACADEMIC YEAR: Eton, Harrow, Radley, Wellington, St Edward’s, Stowe, Charterhouse, Abingdon, Bradfield, Haileybury, Hampton, Marlborough, Oundle, Rugby, Tonbridge and Uppingham.

RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Eton, Harrow, Radley, Rugby, St Edward’s, Stowe and Wellington College.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: The emphasis is on the learning process: developing thinking skills and interpersonal skills. Boys are encouraged to be creative and express their own ideas and to appreciate the difference of others and themselves. All of this is underpinned by a strong values system where manners, respect and kindness are fundamental.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Caldicott is situated in 40 acres of beautiful grounds and extensive playing fields, just 15 miles from Heathrow Airport and 30 minutes from West London, where we operate a daily bus service from Chiswick, Brook Green, Notting Hill and the local area. We are a day school from Years 3 - 6 and full boarding from Years 7 – 8, which is in preparation for public schools. ‘Excellent’ in recent ISI inspection.

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Cheam School

d’Overbroeck’s

ADDRESS: Headley, Newbury, Berkshire RG19 8LD WEBSITE: www.cheamschool.com FOUNDED: 1645 AGES: 3–13 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 224 boys, 184 girls FEES: Full boarding: £8,905, Prep day: £6,855, Pre-Prep £3,845 HEAD TEACHER: Mr Martin Harris BSc, PGCE RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Assessment prior to entry, age dependent.

CONTACT: Mrs Amanda Arkwright, 01635 267822 EMAIL: registrar@cheamschool.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Please contact the registrar to arrange an individual tour and meeting with the headmaster.

ADDRESS: 333 Banbury Road, Oxford OX2 7PL AGES: 11-19 WEBSITE: www.doverbroecks.com FOUNDED: 1977 NUMBER OF PUPILS: Years 7-11: 185, Sixth Form: 300 FEES: Years 7-11 (day students only) - tuition: £5,575, Sixth Form tuition: £7,675, boarding: £2,400 to 4,450 all per term HEAD TEACHER: Mrs Emma-Kate Henry RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Years 7-9 – assessment test , reference, interview. Sixth Form - predicted GCSE grades, school reference, interview CONTACT: Senior Registrar, Mrs Lynne Berry; 01865 688600 EMAIL: lynne.berry@doverbroecks.com SCHOOL VISITS: Individual visits by appointment throughout the year. Next Open Morning: Saturday 12 May

THE CURRICULUM: The school curriculum is geared towards preparing pupils for Common Entrance and scholarship exams at 13+. We endeavour to provide as broad a curriculum as possible, embracing the key examining subjects whilst including art and design, drama, music, PE, ICT and PSHE.

THE CURRICULUM: A broad and balanced curriculum. In the Sixth Form there is an outstanding range of A level subject choices in any combination, plus enrichment. Specialist programmes for Oxbridge/Medicine/ Law, etc

GAMES & THE ARTS: A wide variety of sports are taught including football, rugby, hockey, netball, tennis, swimming, athletics and crosscountry running. The school has a strong drama and musical tradition with many extracurricular groups, including choirs, orchestra and jazz band.

PASTORAL CARE: The ISI report states that the caring, supportive ethos of the school contributes very positively to day and boarding pupils’ wellbeing and care. As a result, pupils are happy and confident.

SENIOR EXIT SCHOOLS FOR THE LAST ACADEMIC YEAR: Eton, Harrow, Radley, Winchester, Downe House, St Mary’s Ascot, St Mary’s Calne, Wycombe Abbey, Cheltenham Ladies, Marlborough, St Edward’s, Wellington College and other top schools.

RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Eighty scholarships in five years to Winchester, Radley, Harrow, Cheltenham Ladies, Wycombe Abbey, Downe House, St Mary’s Ascot, St Mary’s Calne, Marlborough, St Edwards, Wellington, Bryanston.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: We strive to educate the ‘whole’ child and believe strongly that success in one area can lead to achievement in others. We believe that every child can succeed and realise his or her potential and thus gain self-esteem.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Cheam enjoys outstanding facilities; set in a beautiful 100 acre estate with formal gardens, woodland and extensive playing fields. In Autumn 2012, the new art, design and technology centre was opened.

GAMES & THE ARTS: Busy sports and activities programme across the school with very strong arts, drama and music departments. Brand new facilities in sixth form for performing arts.

PASTORAL CARE: Outstanding pastoral care regularly praised by students and staff. Parent/student feedback exceptional. Major strength in support and encouragement for students. d’Overbroeck’s is very much a ‘people place’ where each individual thrives. First name terms highlight working together; underpinned by high level of mutual respect. Small tutor groups and in Sixth Form each student has a Director of Studies who meets with them individually to discuss progress. Parents kept very well informed.

UNIVERSITY PLACES: Excellent record of entrance to top UK (and US) universities plus drama, music and art schools. 63% A*/A at A-level.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: d’Overbroeck’s is built on personal relationships, a lack of stuffiness and a strong conviction that every individual lies at the heart of the school. Students are creative, think for themselves and relish stretching the boundaries of their knowledge. They grow into articulate, probing, caring and courteous individuals who are equally able to express their views cogently and to listen well to others.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Inclusive, collaborative approach with strong focus on learning being enjoyable as well as successful. Students’ views are valued and listened to; teaching is interactive and motivating in small classes. Students gain confidence in expressing themselves more effectively, in questioning, debating and feeling happy in themselves. The Sixth Form is seen as a superb transition from school to university. Superb brand new Sixth Form teaching facility and boarding house.

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The Dragon School

ADDRESS: Bardwell Road, Oxford OX2 6SS FOUNDED: 1877 WEBSITE: www.dragonschool.org NUMBER OF PUPILS: 813 AGES: 4 – 13 HEAD TEACHER: Dr Crispin Hyde-Dunn FEES: Prep Boarding – £9,860; Prep Day – £6,840; Pre-Prep – £5,100; Pre-Prep – £4,440; Pre-Prep Reception – £3,880 RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: None ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Interview and age appropriate assessment.

Entry points are Reception, Year 3, and Year 4 Boarding. There are occasional places for other ages.

CONTACT: Dr Kate Heath EMAIL: admissions@dragonschool.org SCHOOL VISITS: For Prep visits, please ring the admissions office on 01865 315405; for Pre-Prep, contact the school administrator on 01865 315541, or write to the Registrar, Kate Heath.

THE CURRICULUM: Teaching is tailored to the needs of each pupil and their learning styles and motivations. Teachers aim to inspire, motivate and challenge and help children take ownership of their own learning.

GAMES & THE ARTS: The Dragon supports children’s development, coordination, movement and performance through sport and exercise. Children observe, explore and learn through drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture and ceramics in Art, and to experiment with a range of materials and electronics in Design Technology. There are 20 sports on offer, including sculling.

Elstree School

ADDRESS: Woolhampton, Berkshire. RG7 5TD WEBSITE: www.elstreeschool.org.uk FOUNDED: 1848 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 200 AGES: 3–7 FEES: Day £5,790–£6,720; boarding £7,240–£8,620. Home Farm (Nursery & Pre-Prep) £1,131–£3,740.

HEAD TEACHER: Mr Sid Inglis, BA (Hons), P.G.C.E. RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England: All faiths welcome.

ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Tour of the school, registration followed by a successful taster day. We also ask for a child’s latest reports.

CONTACT: Mrs Tish Gauci, registrar - Tel: 0118 971 3302 EMAIL: registrar@elstreeschoolorg.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Open morning 3 March and 12 May, we also welcome individual visits during term-time.

THE CURRICULUM: A first-class, progressive education in preparation for Common Entrance/scholarship to the first-choice senior school. We have an excellent track record of boys gaining places and scholarships at leading public schools.

GAMES & THE ARTS: Sport is an integral part of life at Elstree; every child receives daily sport coaching and has the opportunity to represent the school.

With four choirs, orchestras, ensembles, 90 per cent of boys learn an instrument – music is thriving at Elstree.

PASTORAL CARE: The Dragon strives to create a happy, secure environment where children feel valued and confident. The Director of Social & Emotional Learning, supports staff to embed appropriate skills in to the curriculum. Children are encouraged to think for themselves and develop self-control, independence and a sense of achievement through their learning. Children develop empathy and thoughtful communication through the Family Link’s Nurturing Programme.

PASTORAL CARE: Elstree School prides itself on the individual care that each child receives. Our dedicated staff play an essential role in supporting the pastoral programme which is a fundamental part of life in and out of the classroom. Each child’s academic and personal progress is monitored, attesting to our belief that personal growth and academic development derive from a happy, caring environment where children are encouraged and feel valued.

RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Eton, Rugby, Harrow, Marlborough, St Edward’s.

Radley, Oundle and Winchester.

SENIOR EXIT SCHOOLS: Abingdon, Bradfield, Eton, Harrow, Marlborough, Pangbourne, Radley, Sherborne, Stowe, Uppingham, Winchester and Wellington.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: At the Dragon, new talents are uncovered and ambitions nurtured; friendships are forged and challenges embraced. Every child is valued and every achievement celebrated. A strong scaffold for academic excellence is provided by our cutting edge curriculum and outstanding teaching, equipping our pupils for smooth transition to their senior schools and beyond. We promote kindness and tolerance, we encourage a sense of service to others and responsibility, and we teach children to respect and nurture their own wellbeing, alongside the whole range of pursuits on offer.

RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Abingdon, Bradfield, Eton, Harrow, Marlborough, Pangbourne, Radley, Sherborne, Stowe and Wellington.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: The 2014 ISI inspection rated the Dragon as outstanding; and teaching and learning as ‘exceptional’. The School ethos hinges on a dynamic balance of relaxed unpretentiousness and academic discipline. It is known for its dynamic curriculum, outstanding teachers, extraordinary creative output of music, drama and art.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: At Elstree we are academically ambitious and provide a first class all-round education. Our boys go on to the top public schools and we are immensely proud of the strong Common Entrance and Scholarship record. The emphasis is on building confidence, developing talent and maximising potential.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: In Elstree’s magnificent 150 acre setting, academic achievement is balanced with the chance to be involved in a wide variety of activities. We embed the important values of hard work, kindness and taking opportunities. Our family friendly boarding develops life skills that will serve boys well in public school and beyond.

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Horris Hill

ADDRESS: Horris Hill, Newtown, Newbury RG20 9DJ WEBSITE: www.horrishill.com FOUNDED: 1888 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 120 boys, 100 boarders, 20 day AGES: 7–13 FEES: Boarding £8,900, Day £5,600 (no compulsory extras) HEAD TEACHER: Mr G F Tollit RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Assessment visit CONTACT: Lisa Lee-Smith EMAIL: registrar@horrishill.com SCHOOL VISITS: Family mornings once a term or private tours available.

THE CURRICULUM: All the main academic subjects are taught to a very high standard, including Latin and French. The boys are taught to think, have opinions and interact in lessons.

GAMES & THE ARTS: Full range of major sports and impressive list of other activities including sailing and triathlon. Drama is high quality and all-inclusive.

PASTORAL CARE: A huge strength at Horris Hill. Dedicated staff, most of whom are resident, care about the boys and have high expectations of them. The tutor system is the cornerstone and ensures that boys are used to talking 1:1 with adults.

SENIOR EXIT SCHOOLS FOR THE LAST ACADEMIC YEAR: Winchester, Eton, Sherborne, Marlborough, Harrow and Radley.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: High expectations of each boy both inside and outside of the classroom. First rate staff dedicated to boarding and want the best for the boys. We all relish in the success of the school as a whole.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: No humbug was one of the beliefs of the founder. Horris Hill is intentionally small with superb grounds and facilities. Excellent staff give their expertise, experience and time to ensure that the boys are keen to explore, enquire and develop into confident young men (not arrogant) who are appreciated by the senior schools they move on to.

Lambrook School

ADDRESS: Lambrook School, Winkfield Row, Nr Ascot, Berks RG42 6LU WEBSITE: www.lambrookschool.co.uk FOUNDED: 1860 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 540 AGES: 3–13 FEES: Nursery (full time) £3,641; Pre Prep £3,984; Prep (day) £5,880–£6,387; Prep (weekly boarding) £7,151–£7,658 HEAD TEACHER: Mr Jonathan Perry BA Hons PGCE (Cantab) RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Christian ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Informal meeting at Nursery and Pre Prep. Formal assessment day for prospective Prep entry.

CONTACT: Penny Cardwell, Registrar EMAIL: registrar@lambrookschool.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Personal tours by appointment. Biannual Open Days in May and September.

THE CURRICULUM: The making of many an erudite adult is through their childhood love of learning. At Lambrook we seek to inspire a genuine intellectual curiosity in our children and build their capability as independent learners. Our children consistently achieve a 100% CE pass rate and numerous scholarships to top senior schools.

GAMES & THE ARTS: Children of all abilities enjoy outstanding success in a variety of sports and activities. On-site facilities include 52 acres of grounds, a golf course, swimming pool and AstroTurf pitches. Our performing arts are first rate and produce West End stars, renowned choristers and National Youth Orchestra musicians.

PASTORAL CARE: We consider the health and happiness of the pupils at Lambrook to be of paramount importance. At each level of the school, arrangements are made to ensure that the needs of the children are fully addressed in an appropriate way. A strong team spirit is encouraged by teaching, boarding and ancillary staff, as we work towards making the pupils’ experience happy and fulfilling as they move through the school.

RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: 25 scholarships offered in 2017 to schools including Wellington, Bradfield and Shrewsbury.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: ‘Whilst opportunities abound at Lambrook, we recognise the vital role we also play in raising happy children.

They have one opportunity for the education that will form the basis of their lives, and at the same time one childhood: our aim is to keep a happy balance between the two and to develop their “feathers to fly” ready for their senior school and beyond.’

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: – Extensive grounds of over 52 acres – Day school with both weekly and flexi boarding available – Sports facilities inspire players from county to international level – Performing Arts Centre and a new Art and Design Centre – Opportunities to make a difference through conservation and charity work

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Ludgrove School

ADDRESS: Ludgrove, Wokingham, Berkshire. RG40 3AB WEBSITE: www.ludgrove.net FOUNDED: 1892 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 190 all boys AGES: 8-13 FEES: £8,650 per term HEAD TEACHER: Mr Simon Barber RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England predominantly ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Non-selective in Year 4, assessment thereafter CONTACT: Registrar, Jossie Austen 0118 978 9881 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: 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: We offer a vibrant extracurricular programme with exposure to music, drama, the creative arts and many sports, making the most of exceptional facilities including extensive playing fields, a 350 seat theatre, an Astroturf, 20m indoor swimming pool, and well equipped art block.

PASTORAL CARE: We have an outstanding 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 in and outside the classroom.

RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Eton music exhibition, Harrow academic scholarship, Radley sports and academic exhibitions.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: We are unashamedly ambitious for every boy and are proud of our strong academic record, but 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: – Outstanding academic results, with over 70% leaving to Eton, Harrow, Radley and Winchester.

– 100 per cent full boarding with fortnightly exeats – Set in 130 acres of spectacular grounds, but just 45 minutes from London – Exceptional pastoral care – Delicious food cooked on-site using fresh local ingredients

Maltman’s Green School

ADDRESS: Maltmans Lane, Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire SL9 8RR WEBSITE: www.maltmansgreen.com FOUNDED: 1918 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 420 AGES: 2–11 FEES: Little Malties Day Care (fees on request). Nursery mornings, £1795 per week (optional afternoon sessions available). Reception, £3590. Yr1-2, £4120. Yr3-4 £4680. Yr5-6, £4845. All fees are per term.

HEAD TEACHER: Mrs J R Pardon RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Non-selective. £100 registration fee.

CONTACT: Registrar, Mrs Katherine Day 01753 883022 EMAIL: kday@maltmansgreen.com SCHOOL VISITS: Open day Friday 23 March. School visits outside of this time are available on request.

THE CURRICULUM: An individualised, pupil-focused approach gives every girl the chance to succeed. Our curriculum is broad, engaging and rich with transformational technology, providing stimulation and challenge. Excellent record of entry and scholarships to independent and grammar schools.

GAMES & THE ARTS: Our sports provision is an outstanding feature of the School, with dedicated facilities, daily lessons and the opportunity to compete at local, regional and national level. Music, drama, art and design are key elements – we have specialist teaching and excellent facilities.

PASTORAL CARE: The emotional, social and physical wellbeing of our girls is paramount, and we believe that individual support and a nurturing environment form the foundation from which children can flourish. By providing an encouraging, caring and secure atmosphere, we ensure our girls feel happy, confident and valued – a perfect grounding for academic enrichment. This ethos has been recognised by the ISI who applauded our ‘outstanding’ pastoral care.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: We believe in the pursuit of excellence whilst maintaining a sense of enjoyment, yet remain ready to adapt our approach to meet the needs of the individual.

Our girls’ impressive achievements across academic subjects, sport, music and drama affirms our position as one of the foremost prep schools in the country.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Maltman’s Green delivers an outstanding academic and extra-curricular programme from our 400-year-old malting house in the heart of home counties green-belt.

Allied to outstanding teaching and excellent academic results, our high-end facilities expose talents and develop the skills and mindsets needed for life-long learning and success.

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Papplewick

ADDRESS: Windsor Road, Ascot, Berkshire SL5 7LH WEBSITE: www.papplewick.org.uk FOUNDED: 1947 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 208 boys AGES: 6–13 FEES: Boarding £9,630. Day: Year 2 £5,325. Years 3 and 4 £6,975.

Years 5 and 6 £7,395. Forces bursary available.

HEAD TEACHER: Tom Bunbury BA, P.G.C.E. RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Visit and meeting with headmaster – all boys assessed but no entrance exam.

CONTACT: Sarah Tysoe, 01344 621488 EMAIL: registrar@papplewick.org.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Open Morning Saturday 3 February and Saturday 12 May from 9 -11am for all year groups.

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. Broad but challenging curriculum with small class sizes.

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. Cathedral standard choir. Three quarters learn musical instruments.

PASTORAL CARE: A school which celebrates individuality and where boys can still be boys. The tutor/houseparent system ensures outstanding pastoral care.

SENIOR EXIT SCHOOLS FOR THE LAST ACADEMIC YEAR: Eton, Harrow, Winchester, Wellington, Charterhouse, Stowe, Shrewsbury, Oratory.

RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Twenty-five scholarships to date gained since 2016 (including three King’s Scholarships to Eton) - Eton, Harrow, Winchester, Tonbridge, Charterhouse, Wellington, Marlborough, Cranleigh and Shiplake.

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: Exceptional scholarship record.

Outstanding preparation for top public schools. Best known for happy, confident and well-mannered boys. Two daily London transport services run (35 mins) one from Chiswick and one from Brook Green, Hammersmith. Comprehensive daily activities programme (30 activities including 100-strong snake club). Daily chapel. Modern and family-friendly approach to boarding.

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Queen Anne’s School, Caversham

ADDRESS: Henley Road, Caversham, Reading, Berkshire, RG4 6DX WEBSITE: www.qas.org.uk FOUNDED: 1874 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 460 AGES: 11–18 FEES: Day £7,735 per term; Flexi-boarding £10,280 - £10,835 per term; Full boarding £11,405 per term HEAD TEACHER: Mrs Julia Harrington RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Assessment day & Common Entrance CONTACT: Registrar, Mrs Rachel Wright EMAIL: admissions@qas.org.uk SCHOOL VISITS: All welcome at open mornings or individual appointments with the headmistress are available.

THE CURRICULUM: Academic teaching is structured to allow each girl’s needs to be met so they can thrive. The broad curriculum encourages them to engage with their subjects and develop a passion for learning.

GAMES & THE ARTS: The school is renowned for academic success alongside a rich programme of extra-curricular opportunities and excellence in the arts, drama, music and sport. Our major sports are athletics, lacrosse, netball, rowing, swimming and tennis with many of our girls going on to represent their county and country.

PASTORAL CARE: Queen Anne’s has an excellent reputation for pastoral care. We believe girls perform best when they are happy and secure, and we have effective pastoral systems in place to ensure this.

We see pastoral care and academic development as interwoven; one cannot flourish without the other. Our environment allows girls to find their own path and flourish as individuals. The girls enjoy success whilst having fun and build strong relationships where they are in a happy and caring school environment.

UNIVERSITY PLACES: Fantastic A-level results lead the girls on to top UK and overseas universities.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: We are proud to say that there is no such thing as a ‘Queen Anne’s girl’! Here at Queen Anne’s School you will find a strong community of real girls. Girls who are individuals. Girls who are curious, thoughtful and eager to learn and grow, whilst being energetic, driven and exuberant about life.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: • The school’s 35-acre campus combines traditional and contemporary architecture to provide cutting-edge facilities.

• Boasts a TES award-winning, state-of-the-art Sixth Form Centre.

• Fast rail links, only 26 minutes to London Paddington • ISI Inspection 2017 rated ‘EXCELLENT’

Rupert House School

ADDRESS: 90-92 Bell Street, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire RG9 2BN WEBSITE: www.ruperthouse.org FOUNDED: 1926 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 160 AGES: Boys 3–7; Girls 3–11 FEES: Pre-prep £2,625 - £3,730 Prep £4,595 HEAD TEACHER: Mrs Clare Lynas MA (Hons), PGCE, NPQH RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England but we welcome children of all faiths and none.

ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Visit and meeting with the head – no entrance assessment.

CONTACT: Mrs Halfhead 01491 574263 EMAIL: office@ruperthouse.oxon.sch.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Individual tours available by request.

Open Day: 12 May 10am-12pm.

THE CURRICULUM: A broad education, prioritising English, maths and science. Mandarin classes have been added and the Prep School Baccalaureate has been adopted to run alongside the current curriculum.

GAMES & THE ARTS: Drama is ambitious, with productions at the Kenton Theatre. Music is a strength, with wide range of instruments taught, orchestras, bands and renowned choirs. An improved games programme and a strong fixture list. Sports include: netball, hockey, football, swimming, athletics, tennis, cricket, rounders, gymnastics and cross-country.

PASTORAL CARE: The aim of each form teacher is to build self-esteem and nurture confidence in every child in their care. Happiness is our priority. Upper School children are given one-to-one time with their teacher to ensure that their needs are met. Numerous opportunities to perform, or speak in public, build self-assurance and poise.

RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Year 6 girls achieve scholarships to top secondary schools including: Queen Anne’s, St. George’s Ascot, St. Helen & St. Katharine, The Abbey, Pangbourne College and Headington.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: Every child at Rupert House is an individual following their own pathway through school. Our small class sizes enable staff to guide and nurture each child to develop their talents, build their confidence and maximise their potential.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: – A caring, nurturing environment with small class sizes – Broad and stimulating curriculum, including art, drama, sport and music – Situated in spacious grounds, with playing fields and a forest school – Emphasis on an individual pathway – Empowering children to achieve their potential – Academic success achieved in Year 6

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Badminton School

Blundell’s School

ADDRESS: Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol BS9 3BA WEBSITE: www.badmintonschool.co.uk FOUNDED: 1858 NUMBER OF PUPILS: Approximately 450 AGES: 3–18 years FEES: Day fees per term: £3,200 - £5,395. Boarding fees per term: £7,100 - £12,220 HEAD TEACHER: Mrs Rebecca Tear, MA, BSc, PGCE RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Girls take entrance exams, sit an online adaptive test and are interviewed by a senior member of staff.

CONTACT: Catriona Gemmell, admissions manager: 0117 905 5271 SCHOOL VISITS: Individual visits welcome. Whole School open mornings:

ADDRESS: Blundell’s Road, Tiverton, Devon EX16 4DN WEBSITE: www.blundells.org FOUNDED: 1604 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 345 boys, 253 girls AGES: 11–18 FEES: Day £4,575-£7,250; Boarding: flexi £5,290-£7,930; weekly £6,980-£9,920; full £7,710-£11,285 per term. Scholarships available.

HEAD TEACHER: Mrs Nicola Huggett MA (Oxon) RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Common entrance or Blundell’s Entrance Test, scholarship exams, interview.

CONTACT: Mrs Tracy Frankpitt, 01884 252543, registrars@blundells.org SCHOOL VISITS: Open morning in September. Please contact the school to reserve your place or to arrange a visit on another day.

Friday 2 March & Monday 7 May. Contact admissions to book your place and for further information.

THE CURRICULUM: The emphasis at Badminton is on a holistic education, not narrowly academic, and 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 outstanding Creative Arts Centre provides girls with the inspiration and facilities to excel in the various mediums of art. Music is a large part of the School life with countless opportunities to perform and develop. Games is an important part of the School day with excellent facilities on site.

PASTORAL CARE: The size of the campus and community at Badminton gives a homely and vibrant feel to the School. This, coupled with excellent pastoral care, leaves no scope for anonymity, but rather lends itself to strong mutually supportive relationships between girls as well as between girls and staff. At Badminton, we wish every girl to feel happy and confident about her school life. We therefore work to ensure a well ordered and safe environment where we ask the girls to take responsibility for themselves and others.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: At Badminton, our focus continues to be on nurturing the girls’ natural curiosity and fuelling their passion for learning.

The enduring excellence that Badminton girls achieve, stems from the positive atmosphere in the school and the 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 changing and challenging wider world and, when they do, they take with them a strong network of lifelong friends developed through a wealth of shared experiences.

THE CURRICULUM: The school combines a strong tradition of academic ambition with an innovative emphasis on the moral, spiritual and cultural development of pupils. A broad, challenging and stimulating range of subjects is offered, supported by a rich programme of extra-curricular activities, lectures, conferences and visits.

GAMES & THE ARTS: Excellent facilities and reputation for sport (especially rugby, cricket,hockey and fives) and the creative arts, with purpose-built theatre and music school providing a focus for cultural activities.

PASTORAL CARE: Each individual pupil is known and cared for throughout their time at school. All pupils (day and boarders) are included in the life of the boarding houses, a system which promotes pastoral welfare, happiness and fosters a strong spirit of achievement and sense of community.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: Blundell’s supports and guides young people to achieve their very best in whatever sphere they choose.

We provide ‘roots’ for security, based on friendship, respect for others and personal values and ‘wings’ to succeed in the challenging world beyond school, based on self-confidence and a sense of excitement.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Blundellians have a positive ‘can-do’ attitude and there is a fantastic community spirit within the school. Blundell’s provides a rounded education in which pupils learn to be flexible, articulate and independent, capable of motivating themselves and others.

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Bryanston School

Hazlegrove

ADDRESS: Blandford, Dorset DT11 0PX WEBSITE: www.bryanston.co.uk FOUNDED: 1928 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 366 boys, 307 girls AGES: 13–18 FEES: Boarding £12,382 per term; day £10,109 per term.

HEAD TEACHER: Ms Sarah Thomas (BA) RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England but other faiths welcome.

ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: At 13, assessments and interviews (full details at www.bryanston.co.uk/admissions). At 16, entrance tests and interview.

CONTACT: Anne Megdiche, Admissions Registrar, 01258 484500 EMAIL: admissions@bryanston.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Small group visits most weeks during term time.

To arrange a visit please contact the admissions office.

ADDRESS: Hazlegrove, Sparkford, Yeovil, Somerset BA22 7JA WEBSITE: www.hazlegrove.co.uk OPENED: 1947 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 190 boys, 176 girls AGES: 2–13 FEES: Pre-prep £2,843; Prep Day £4,519–£5,764; Prep Boarding £6,686–£8,531 HEAD TEACHER: Mr Mark White MA (Hons) RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Informal interview and assessment.

CONTACT: Mrs Fiona O’Neill, admissions, 01963 442606 EMAIL: admissions@hazlegrove.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Open Days 3 February and 12, 18 & 19 May, all at 11am. Visitors always welcome during term time by appointment.

THE CURRICULUM: Bryanston prides itself on the breadth and flexibility of its curriculum. Each pupil’s timetable is individually tailored to include one-to-one periods. Strong tutoring and state-of-the-art online assessment encourage pupils to develop independent learning while supporting progress at every stage. In the sixth form we offer A-levels and the IB.

THE CURRICULUM: We want every day to be a good day and have an ambitious mix of the traditional (including Latin) with fringe subjects like Mandarin, outdoor education, chess and bridge. Independence in learning and a ‘hands on’ approach are central themes.

GAMES & THE ARTS: Bryanston is renowned for the variety and sheer quality of its creative life. Creativity is encouraged in all pupils. In sport we offer opportunity and choice: many pupils excel at sports they may never previously have considered.

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: Every pupil has a one-to-one conversation with their tutor every week, which encompasses both the academic and the pastoral. There is an extensive network of support and a house system which avoids tribalism and encourages lifelong friendships.

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

UNIVERSITY PLACES: One-to-one support from tutors and subject specialists ensures that pupils apply to courses best suited to their individual strengths and aspirations, at a range of universities including Oxbridge and the Russell Group, prestigious art foundation courses, as well as universities overseas. Nearly all pupils are placed in their first choice institution.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: Bryanston values creativity, independence of thinking and individual achievements. We delight in the variety of our pupils, and we will always pursue and celebrate excellence, in whatever form it takes.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Every school will tell you it cares about the individual. Where Bryanston differs in practice is the time it allocates for pupils’ one-to-one contact with teachers. Over time, this support makes a significant impact academically, socially and pastorally. We send pupils on to the next stage of their education who are comfortable in adult company, and who know how to work successfully and independently.

SENIOR EXIT SCHOOLS: Numerous, including our own senior school King’s Bruton, Bryanston, Canford, Downside, Eton, Marlborough, Millfield, Sherborne, Sherborne Girls, St Mary’s Ascot, St Mary’s Calne and Winchester.

RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: An impressive 81 scholarships and 16 awards have been gained to 22 different schools over the last three years – these included 22 academic, 31 sport, 12 music and 16 all-rounder scholarships and awards.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: ‘We want children to be who they are what they want to be. A happy child is a confident child.’

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Our ISI report 2015 states ‘Pupils have a strong moral compass, and their determination to be upstanding members of society both within the school community and beyond is evident.

Their behaviour, courtesy, consideration and kindness towards each other, to new members of their community and to visitors are all exemplary.’ At our heart we are simply a school that has three core themes – values, relationships and a belief in childhood.

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Hanford School

ADDRESS: Child Okeford, Blandford, Dorset DT11 8HN WEBSITE: www.hanfordschool.co.uk FOUNDED: 1947 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 100 AGES: Girls 7–13 FEES: Boarding £7,500; day £6,250 per term HEAD TEACHER: Mr Rory Johnston RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: No formal entrance exam.

All enquiries welcomed.

CONTACT: Karen Mallinson EMAIL: admissions@hanfordschool.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Prospective parents welcome at any time.

Open morning 24 February.

THE CURRICULUM: Our curriculum is based on the Common Entrance syllabus which incorporates the National Curriculum. In addition: Latin, IT, religious education, drama, music and music appreciation, art appreciation, art, pottery and handwork.

GAMES & THE ARTS: Sport covers netball, hockey, tennis, gymnastics, cricket, pop lacrosse, rounders, athletics, cross country and swimming. As well as thriving art and music departments, Hanford is well known for its riding at all levels and ages.

PASTORAL CARE: Hanford provides a secure framework for the emotional well-being and educational security of its girls. All receive individual attention and support in the context of a homely and happy atmosphere.

SENIOR EXIT SCHOOLS FOR THE LAST ACADEMIC YEAR: Bryanston, Downe House, King’s Bruton, Marlborough, Maynard, Milton Abbey, St Mary’s Ascot, St Mary’s Calne, St Mary’s Shaftesbury, Sherborne Girls’, Uppingham and Westonbirt.

RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Bryanston, Downe House, Marlborough, Maynard, Milton Abbey, St Mary’s Calne, St Mary’s Shaftesbury, Sherborne Girls’ and Westonbirt.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: The girls are given the freedom to develop at their own pace and are encouraged to make the most of the beautiful and carefree environment at Hanford, sowing, nurturing and encouraging the seeds of achievement and independence of all girls.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Hanford is a glorious Jacobean house in 45 acres of Dorset countryside. Hanford punches well above its weight academically but also provides a good all-round education. This is a school of high spirits, mutual support, clubs and committees, ponies and riding before breakfast, home grown food and flowers. In a world which expects conformity, Hanford encourages individuality and imagination and provides a magical home-from-home environment.

Canford School

ADDRESS: Wimborne, Dorset BH21 3AD WEBSITE: www.canford.com FOUNDED: 1923 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 375 boys, 265 girls AGES: 13–18 FEES: Boarding per term £11,590; day per term £8,822 HEAD TEACHER: Ben Vessey MA RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: At 13+, pre-assessment leading to Common Entrance, scholarship or our own entry tests in Year 8. At 16+, scholarship or our own entry tests in the autumn of Year 11.

CONTACT: Mike Owen, registrar, 01202 847207, admissions@canford.com SCHOOL VISITS: Open Day 21 April 2018. Personal visits also welcome – please contact the admissions office.

THE CURRICULUM: The academic curriculum offers GCSEs, IGCSEs, A-levels and Pre-U qualifications. Canford is proud of its reputation for academic rigour and high achievement. Canford was among the top 25 co-ed boarding schools for A*/A A Level results 2016 (www.best-schools.co.uk) and has been Runner up Public School of the Year twice in the past three years (Tatler).

GAMES & THE ARTS: Sport should be for all, and at Canford it is.

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.

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.

UNIVERSITY PLACES: Over 95 per cent of our upper sixth pupils move on to university with 80 per cent to Russell Group/Top 12 universities plus US Ivy League scholarships and 100 medical school places in the past 11 years PERCENTAGE OF OXBRIDGE CANDIDATES: Around 30 per cent of the upper sixth apply each year. A strong record of success with 111 offers in the past decade.

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 this.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Canford has a culture which encourages participation and hard work. Examination results lead the way in the region. It is an environment where pupils can truly flourish. Recent national recognition: ‘Best for School Setting’ by The Week; a top 100 cricket school according to The Cricketer; ‘Runner up - Public School of the Year’ by Tatler.

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SOUTH WEST SCHOOLS

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Pinewood School

ADDRESS: Bourton, Shrivenham, Wiltshire SN6 8HZ WEBSITE: www.pinewoodschool.co.uk FOUNDED: 1875 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 221 boys, 201 girls AGES: 3–13 FEES: Pre-prep and nursery (full days) £2,825–£2,990; Prep school £5,040–£5,750; Boarding supplement £1,405.

HEAD TEACHER: Philip Hoyland B Ed (Exeter) RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Early registration is recommended CONTACT: Emily Miller, Registrar: 01793 782554 EMAIL: emilymiller@pinewoodschool.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Please telephone the school office and speak to the Registrar, Emily Miller.

THE CURRICULUM: We aim to provide a broad and balanced curriculum that gives our children the necessary skills and knowledge to gain entry into their chosen senior schools at 13+. Pinewood is leading the way in a change of CE curriculum, with the support of senior schools. We seek to enrich the learning experience for our pupils beyond the usual confines of the National Curriculum and the prescriptive Common Entrance, and importantly, to promote in our children a curiosity and love of learning.

GAMES & THE ARTS: Facilities include a dedicated music school, theatre, art and CDT studios, as well as an astro pitch and a brand new sports hall. 75 per cent of children take up a musical instrument or participate in our many choirs and bands. The games programme is full, competitive and varied; sport is coached most afternoons. We strive to make sure all children play in a team regularly.

PASTORAL CARE: The school is spilt into four sections (pre-prep, lower, middle and upper schools, each with a head). Each form has a tutor and there is a head of boarding who, alongside the headmaster, his wife and a boarding team look after the 130 boarding children in the evenings.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: To release the children’s potential by developing character, curiosity, learning and skills through a variety of opportunities within the academic, sporting, musical, dramatic and artistic arenas, as well as through our wide-ranging activity and adventure programmes.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: The Pinewood co-educational philosophy, country location, flexible approach to boarding, size and high levels of pastoral care all combine to create an environment that allows children to enjoy a happy, secure and fulfilled childhood.

Port Regis

ADDRESS: Motcombe Park, Shaftesbury, Dorset SP7 9QA WEBSITE: www.portregis.com FOUNDED: 1881 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 300 (co-ed) AGES: 3–13 FEES: Pre-Prep £2,890; Prep £4,999–£8,600 HEAD TEACHER: Mr Stephen Ilett MA RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Informal interview and assessment.

CONTACT: Mrs Lally Holme, Registrar, 01747 857914 EMAIL: admissions@portregis.com SCHOOL VISITS: Open Mornings are held every term or personal tours are available upon request.

THE CURRICULUM: Our broad academic curriculum is second to none, enabling pupils to to meet the challenges of pre-testing, Common Entrance and scholarship examinations. It is also designed to instil a love of learning and inquisitive, independent thinking.

GAMES & THE ARTS: The school has an excellent reputation for sport at both team and individual levels. Music, art, design, drama and technology are also very strong and we benefit from outstanding facilities. Dozens more hobbies, clubs and after school activities are also offered.

PASTORAL CARE: Every child matters at Port Regis and we take the responsibility of caring for all our pupils extremely seriously. We work tirelessly to ensure a nurturing atmosphere in which each child feels secure and happy.

Boarding, in all forms, thrives at Port Regis and is rated Outstanding by Ofsted.

SENIOR EXIT SCHOOLS: Pupils go on to the country’s premier schools including: Bryanston, Canford, Charterhouse, Downe House, Eton, Harrow, Marlborough, Millfield, Radley, Sherborne, Sherborne Girls, Wellington, Winchester and Wycombe Abbey.

RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Scholarships won this year to Radley, Harrow, Marlborough, Millfield, Sherborne, St. Mary’s Calne and Bryanston.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: Our aim is to provide an outstanding education which will set your child up for life. We also strive to equip pupils with the qualities of character and the confidence which will see them through the next stage of their education and beyond.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: • Superb education and teaching by experienced and highly qualified, specialist staff, as well as excellent pastoral care.

• Proven track record of CE and Scholarship success.

• Exceptional academic, sporting and musical facilities.

• Pupils go on to a wide range of local and national schools.

• Located within two hours commute of Central London and Heathrow.

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St Mary’s Calne

ADDRESS: Curzon Street, Calne, Wiltshire SN11 0DF WEBSITE: www.stmaryscalne.org FOUNDED: 1873 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 350 AGES: 11–18 FEES: Boarding £12,550 per term; Day £9,350 per term HEAD TEACHER: Dr 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: 01249 857200, admissions@stmaryscalne.org SCHOOL VISITS: Individual visits throughout the term. Open days: 24 February and 28 April 2018. Pre-booking essential.

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.

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 RADA 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 overwhelming majority of the girls gain places at their first choice university. Expert advice is given on UCAS, careers and university choices.

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 excellent facilities as well as trips, outings and over 40 extracurricular clubs. We are the top achieving independent school in the South West (Sunday Times Schools Guide, Parent Power 2018) and 35th nationally.

Warminster School

ADDRESS: Church Street, Warminster, Wiltshire, BA12 8PJ WEBSITE: www.warminsterschool.org.uk

FOUNDED: 1707

NUMBER OF PUPILS: Approx. 550

AGES: 3–18

FEES: Prep from £2,700, Senior Day £5,010, Senior Boarding £9,995 HEAD TEACHER: Mr Mark Mortimer RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England but welcomes all faiths.

ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Entrance exams, school reports and interview with headmaster. Entry at Yr 7, 9 and Lower Sixth.

CONTACT: Fiona Beach-MacGeagh, head of admissions EMAIL: admissions@warminsterschool.org.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Please register online for open days. Private visits also welcome.

THE CURRICULUM: We offer an extensive range of subjects to enable pupils to reach their potential. The co-curricular programme is a vibrant and vital part of school life.

GAMES & THE ARTS: Sport at Warminster helps our pupils develop their understanding of the importance of teamwork, commitment, responsibility and leadership. Self-expression and the ability to communicate with confidence are crucial tools for life, with over 40 performances a year, our pupils have numerous opportunities to perform in music concerts, drama productions.

PASTORAL CARE: Warminster prides itself on the strength, warmth, consistency and thoroughness of its pastoral care. Every pupil, whether day or boarding, is in a small tutor group and sees his or her tutor twice daily. Their relationship is vital and the keystone of effective tutoring.

UNIVERSITY PLACES: 92% of our leavers get into their first choice university and course. Includes Russell Group and overseas universities.

We advise and focus on the needs and ambitions of each pupil.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: Our educational philosophy is simple. What happens outside the classroom is just as important as what happens inside it. Secondly, every child is good at something and a school’s job is to help them find their interests and nurture them.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: “We believe that it is our sense of community, mutual support and happy atmosphere that set us apart. It is genuine, authentic and impossible to contrive.”

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Bromsgrove School

Cheltenham Ladies’ College

ADDRESS: Worcester Road, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire B61 7DU WEBSITE: www.bromsgrove-school.co.uk FOUNDED: 1553 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 500 (7–13), 930 (13–18), 500 Boarders FEES: Prep day: £3730 - £4840, weekly board: £5670 - £6855, full board: £7770 - £9580 Senior Day: £5340, weekly board: £7920, full board: £11950 all per term HEAD TEACHER: Peter Clague, BA, MBA RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Anglican ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Entrance examination and interview.

CONTACT: admissions@bromsgrove-school.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Individual visits welcomed – contact Mrs Amanda James, ajames@bromsgrove-school.co.uk

ADDRESS: Bayshill Road, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL50 3EP WEBSITE: www.cheltladiescollege.org FOUNDED: 1853 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 850 girls AGES: 11–18 FEES: Boarding £11,870; Day £7,970; New Sixth Form entrants boarding £13,370; New Sixth From entrants day £9,070 (all per term).

HEAD TEACHER: Ms Eve Jardine-Young MA RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Christian by tradition – all faiths welcome.

ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: 11+, 12+ and 13+: CLC’s own exams. Sixth form: exams in chosen subjects for A-level or IB. CONTACT: Senior Admissions Officer, 01242 707070, admissions@cheltladiescollege.org SCHOOL VISITS: Open Days 20 April, 21 May, 9 & 29 June. More dates and private visits available, see the website for details.

THE CURRICULUM: Outstanding results at all levels including the IB Diploma, the majority of pupils go on to top UK and world universities.

GAMES & THE ARTS: Bromsgrove achieves outstanding results at both A-level and IB Diploma. There is genuinely a big variety of sport on offer and Bromsgrove is consistently ranked in the top five independent schools for sport in School Sports Magazine. The school has had teams in national finals for hockey, netball, and cricket as well as winning the Nat West U18 Rugby Trophy in both 2015 and 2016. The extracurricular life of the school is hugely important with activities sessions every afternoon and on Saturday mornings.

Pupils are encouraged to reach their highest possible level at sport, music, drama, debating, CCF and in numerous other areas. Major productions take place every year and in support of this, a new performance arts centre opened in September 2017.

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

GAMES & THE ARTS: We support each girl in striking a successful balance between academic and co-curricular activities. Our co-curricular provision is exciting and well-resourced, presenting every girl with an opportunity to find her niche from the 160+ activities on offer, from astronomy to lacrosse, gospel choir to engineering club.

PASTORAL CARE: Cheltenham Ladies’ College is a busy place and pastoral care forms an underlying foundation, which supports every girl throughout their time here. Our academic staff, tutors, house system, chaplain and medical centre create a pastoral network to support every girl, from the reserved to the extrovert.

PASTORAL CARE: Each house has resident Houseparents and a dedicated tutor team. There are no exeats: Bromsgrove is always open at weekends.

The school has a team of nurses who, under the control of the school doctor, provide on-site medical care in the school’s modern health centre. Pupils enjoy high-quality varied food. Prep school boarders are housed in a superb stateof-the-art facility, and weekly as well as full boarding is offered.

UNIVERSITY PLACES: Our dedicated Professional Guidance Centre supports girls applying for higher education both in the UK and abroad, including specialist provision for the US and Oxbridge applications. In 2017, girls took up places at Oxford and Cambridge, as well as leading US universities, including Harvard, NYU, Pennsylvania and Dartmouth.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: Bromsgrove’s scope is staggering: from A-level to the International Baccalaureate, day to boarding, the arts to sport, pupils can soar. Utterly dedicated to the individual pupil, Bromsgrove looks to produce creative citizens with a strong moral compass.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: A 21st-century education needs to inspire, prepare and equip children to sustain a lifetime of independently sought learning, and give them the flexibility and resourcefulness to flourish in our rapidly changing world. Academic excellence forms 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: The passion, vision and flair that have transformed Bromsgrove intellectually, culturally and on the games fields is also manifest in its latest facilities: new science laboratories; new residential buildings for senior and prep pupils; an immense sports arena development and new state of the art performing arts centre all show the School’s commitment to providing pupils with the very best environment in which to live and learn.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: College was founded in 1853 with the purpose of providing girls with a thorough academic education. We remain committed to that pioneering goal and pupils from all corners of the globe benefit from the knowledge and expertise gained from over 160 years of putting girls first and pursuing educational opportunities for young women.

Girls are at the heart of all we do and we are ambitious for their futures.

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CENTRAL & NORTHERN SCHOOLS

Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate

ADDRESS: Thorpe Underwood Hall, Ouseburn, York YO26 9SS WEBSITE: www.qe.org FOUNDED: 1912 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 1,540 AGES: 3–19 HEAD TEACHER: Mr Steven Jandrell RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Interview, test, previous school report.

CONTACT: Pat Jewitt – Registrar EMAIL: info@qe.org SCHOOL VISITS: Please contact us to arrange a convenient time.

THE CURRICULUM: We offer a rich variety of GCSEs, A-levels and BTECs and have achieved our best academic results to date, a ranking in the top ten schools in the UK, a record number of leavers going to the most prestigious universities.

GAMES & THE ARTS: From Year 10, students who choose to continue their study of art and design or photography can take full advantage of our personalised approach and build rich and varied portfolios for GCSE, A-level or BTEC art and design courses. Small class sizes and one-to-one support outside normal lessons enable us to nurture young talent and achieve excellent results.

PASTORAL CARE: We understand and are responsive to the need for our school to be a happy and co-operative environment, in order to meet high academic aims. Our campus provides a wonderful base on which our pupils can build a thriving and fulfilling school life RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: First term free, sport, family – sibling, free transport, drama – performing arts, sports, academic, all-rounder, art – fashion, choral – music.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: To be the best I can with the gifts I have.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: – Over £100m invested in new facilities.

– New £30m sports centre.

– Wide choice of GCSEs, A-levels and BTECs

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EASTERN SCHOOLS

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EASTERN SCHOOLS

Orwell Park School

ADDRESS: Orwell Park School, Nacton, Ipswich, Suffolk IP10 OER WEBSITE: www.orwellpark.co.uk FOUNDED: 1868 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 301

AGES: 2 ½–13

FEES: Pre-prep day: £2,634 - £3,746. Prep Boarding: £7,032-£8,374.

Prep day: £5,484- 6,078 HEAD TEACHER: Adrian Brown MA, PGCE RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Interdominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Interview and assessment.

CONTACT: Bernadette Ross-Smith, Registrar EMAIL: admissions@orwellpark.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Open morning 12 May or by prior appointment THE CURRICULUM: ‘The school is extremely successful in fulfilling its aims of providing an academically challenging and fulfilling all-round education, and strong pastoral care where all pupils are able to benefit form a vibrant boarding experience.’ Independent Schools Inspectorate November 2014 GAMES & THE ARTS: Extensive grounds provide abundant opportunities for sport. Excellent facilities include an assault course, astroturf, golf course, games pitches, swimming pool, squash courts and sports hall. Art, design technology and music are real strengths.

PASTORAL CARE: Pastoral care is given top priority in ensuring that every child is listened to, cared for, valued and encouraged.

RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: 24 scholarships awarded to pupils this year for academic, music, art and sport. Variety of local and national exit schools including Harrow, Tonbridge, Oundle, Uppingham, Kings Canterbury HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: Inspire our children and make earning fun. Help every child to fulfil their potential in a supportive, nurturing environment in which they can develop a lifelong love of learning and the self-confidence and self-esteem that will prepare them for the future.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: High quality education in one of the most beautiful school settings in England. Orwell Park is a unique school where boys and girls of all abilities will thrive and enjoy their childhood.

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NORTHERN IRELAND / ROI / SCOTLAND / WALES SCHOOLS

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NORTHERN IRELAND / ROI / SCOTLAND / WALES SCHOOLS

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NORTHERN IRELAND / ROI / SCOTLAND / WALES SCHOOLS

Clongowes Wood College SJ

ADDRESS: Clane, Co. Kildare, W91 DN40 Ireland WEBSITE: www.clongowes.net FOUNDED: 1814 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 450 AGES: 11–18 FEES: €19,500 per annum HEAD TEACHER: Mr Chris Lumb RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Jesuit ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: We encourage parents and boys to visit to meet our students and staff followed by taster sleepover if requested.

CONTACT: Admissions office +353 (0)45 838258 EMAIL: admissions@clongowes.net SCHOOL VISITS: We welcome visitors by appointment. Preregistration required for our open day on May 12th 2018 for September 2019 entry.

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

THE CURRICULUM: The Irish curriculum is broad and balanced. Our approach is to encourage co-operative learning, development of critical thinking and independent learning. Our students go on to study in a diverse range of fields in UK, Irish and international universities.

GAMES & THE ARTS: Clongowes is set in 550 acres with outstanding facilities for sport, music and the arts. Sporting activities include rugby, football, golf, cricket, swimming, athletics, watersports and many more. We have an impressive orchestra and 3 choirs. Many students partake in debating and drama.

PASTORAL CARE: Pastoral care at Clongowes is a cornerstone of our living and learning community. The Jesuit ethos of ‘Care for the Individual’ is reflected throughout every facet of school life. Dedicated tutors, housemasters and care teams ensure that the physical and emotional wellbeing of our students is given top priority within our happy and harmonious school.

UNIVERSITY PLACES: Our graduates further their studies in the top Irish, UK and international universities.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: At Clongowes each one of our boys is valued and encouraged. Our aim is to create an open, happy, stimulating, mutually respectful community environment in which young people are able to develop the full range of their talents and abilities in a balanced, integrated and generous way.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: A dynamic and supportive full boarding school for boys set in beautiful countryside: - Ireland’s leading 7 day boarding school for boys.

- A heritage of producing well rounded graduates ready to become leaders in diverse fields of business, sport, politics and the arts.

- High academic standards with access to leading universities globally.

- Excellent co-curricular programmes and facilities.

- A home from home for boys from all over Ireland and further afield.

- Easy links to the UK from Dublin airport, just 40 minutes from the school.

The next issue of SCHOOL HOUSE MAGAZINE is out in September 2018 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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NORTHERN IRELAND / ROI / SCOTLAND / WALES SCHOOLS

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NORTHERN IRELAND / ROI / SCOTLAND / WALES SCHOOLS

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NORTHERN IRELAND / ROI / SCOTLAND / WALES SCHOOLS

The King’s Hospital School

Rathdown School

ADDRESS: Palmerstown, Dublin, Ireland D20 V256 WEBSITE: www.kingshospital.ie FOUNDED: 1669 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 730 AGES: 12–19 FEES: €19,194 for seven-day boarding HEAD TEACHER: Mr John D. Rafter RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of Ireland. Inclusive of all faiths.

ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Interview and assessment with the headmaster. A taster experience can be arranged on request.

CONTACT: Admissions department +353 (0)1643 6564 EMAIL: khadmissions@thekingshospital.ie SCHOOL VISITS: Open day for 2019 entry: 27 April. Pre-registration required. For remaining 2018 places, family visits by appointment.

ADDRESS: Glenageary, Co. Dublin, Ireland A96 NX44 WEBSITE: www.rathdownschool.ie FOUNDED: 1973 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 485 girls AGES: 3–18 FEES: Full Boarding: €18,850 - €22,150 per annum.

Day: €4,475 - €9,020 per annum. Scholarships available.

HEAD TEACHERS: Mr Brian Moore RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of Ireland. Welcomes all faiths.

ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Visit and meet the Head of School, staff and pupils. No entrance exam.

CONTACT: Ms. Anne Pierpoint, Registrar, +353 1 285 3133 EMAIL: registrar@rathdownschool.ie SCHOOL VISITS: Personal visits are encouraged and welcomed throughout the year Monday –Friday. Please contact the Registrar.

THE CURRICULUM: A six-year programme consists of Junior Cycle (three years), Transition Year, & Senior Cycle (two years). State exams sat at the end of the Junior & Senior Cycle.

GAMES & THE ARTS: Our 85-acre leafy campus contains outstanding sports facilities. Over 11 competitive sports are played including; rugby, hockey, cricket, tennis and swimming in a 25M indoor pool. There are also over 40 enrichment programmes, with great acclaim in the performing arts, debating, technology and volunteering.

PASTORAL CARE: Pastoral care and wellbeing is paramount here and instilled into every staff member and student. The school has a house-system managed by house persons and supported by the medical team, chaplain, guidance counsellors and tutors, while being assisted by student prefects and mentors.

With over half our staff living on-campus with their families, we have held onto the tradition of our school as a community, encouraging positive relationships and personal responsibility in our students.

UNIVERSITY PLACES: Over 96 per cent of our 2017 leavers accepted university places, including six scholarships to Trinity College, Dublin.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: As a long time educator, teaching maths and science and also overseeing extra-curricular activities, I am passionate about providing a stimulating environment for students that not only meets their academic needs, but is also focused on their physical and emotional wellbeing.

We prepare resilient and confident students who are world-ready.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Students said in a recent survey: • Discovers and encourages potential in many areas • Good variety of sport and extra-curricular activities on a beautiful campus • Does a lot to prepare us for life beyond school • Provides opportunities to help our community through volunteering • Transition Year helps us to mature and focus for the next stage of school • Diversity and inclusivity. There is a great mix of cultures & backgrounds

THE CURRICULUM: Our students progress to study in Irish, UK and international universities. The Irish curriculum is broad and balanced and consists of a three-year Junior Cycle followed by a three-year Senior Cycle. Pupils study 7-8 subjects culminating in the Leaving Certificate examination, the equivalent of A-levels or the IB. GAMES & THE ARTS: We offer a broad and ambitious sports programme with twin objectives of ‘sport for all’ coupled with promoting and supporting excellence. Our facilities are second-to-none. Music, art and drama also hold a high profile within the school and are valued as a significant part of life in the community and girls all round education.

PASTORAL CARE: We are a close-knit community with a hospitable atmosphere maintained by a strong culture of positive behaviour and pastoral care. Our relatively small size leads to students known by management, teachers, year heads, care team and peers. A vibrant boarding community at the centre of school life.

UNIVERSITY PLACES: Our students go on to study at UK, Irish and international universities.

HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: Each student is unique and should be nurtured to achieve her individual best in all aspects of life. We cherish the intellectual, physical, moral and spiritual formation of every student.

The Rathdown School family and community, both Irish and global, is at the heart of what we do.

OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: • All Girls, day and boarding • Strong academic, sporting and music tradition • Ideally situated in County Dublin on a beautiful campus • Easily accessed from the UK & abroad. Just 45 minutes from Dublin Airport • An inclusive, culturally diverse, tolerant and respectful community • A vibrant boarding community offering girls a ‘home from home’

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DIRECTORY LONDON SCHOOLS | COUNTRY SCHOOLS

Port Regis, Dorset

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LONDON SCHOOLS

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London NURSERIES Cumnor House School Nursery 91 Pampisford Road, CR2 6DH & 13 Woodcote Lane, CR8 3HB T: 020 8660 3445 www.eatonhouseschools.com Open Days: Personal Tours every day throughout the year. nnL 145

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Eaton House Belgravia Nursery 3-5 Eaton Gate, London SW1W 9BA T: 0207 924 6000 www.eatonhouseschools.com Open Days: Open house or individual tours. Book at www. eatonhouseschools.com nnL Eaton House The Manor Nursery 58 Clapham Common Northside, London SW4 9RU T: 020 7924 6000 www.eatonhouseschools.com Open Days: Weekly open house every Wednesday morning. Book at www.eatonhouseschools.com nnL

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Eaton Square Nursery, Belgravia 28 & 30 Eccleston Street, London SW1W 9PY T: 020 7823 6217 www.eatonsquareschool.com Open Days: Contact the school. nnL

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Eaton Square Nursery, Knightsbridge Rutland Gardens, London SW7 1BX T: 020 7052 9019 www.eatonsquareschool.com Open Days: Contact the school. nnL

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Eaton Square Nursery, Pimlico 32a Lupus Street, London SW1V 3DZ T: 020 7976 6511 www.eatonsquareschool.com Open Days: Contact the school. nnL

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Falcons Pre-Prep 2 Burnaby Gardens, London W4 3DT T: 020 8747 8393 www.falconsboys.co.uk Open Days: 10 March nnn9 Hyde Park Nursery & Pre-Prep The Long Garden, St George’s Fields, Albion Street, London W2 2AX T: 020 7262 1190 www.hydeparkschool.co.uk Open Days: 4 Oct & 29 Nov. nnnL

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Lion House School Nursery The Old Methodist Hall, Gwendolen Avenue, London SW15 6EH T: 020 8780 9446 www.lionhouseschool.co.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnnL North Bridge House Nursery 33 Fitzjohn’s Ave, London NW3 5JY T: 020 7267 6266 www.northbridgehouse.com Open Days: 19 Sept, 3, 10 & 31 Oct, 14 Nov & 5 Dec. nnL

Peregrine’s Pre-Prep 11 Woodborough Road Putney, London SW15 6PY T: 020 8992 5189 www.peregrinespreprep.co.uk Open Days: 3 Februaryl nnnL

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Rolfe’s Nusery School 34A Oxford Gardens, London W10 5UG T: 020 7727 8300 www.rolfesnurseryschool.co.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnL

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Chiswick & Bedford Park Preparatory School Priory House, Priory Avenue, London W4 1TX T: 020 8994 1804 www.cbppschool.co.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnnnL

Abercorn School 28 Abercorn Place, London NW8 9XP T: 020 7286 4785 www.abercornschool.com Open Days: 23 Feb & 16 March. nnnnL Abingdon House School Broadley Terrace, London NW1 6LG T: 020 3750 5526 www.abingdonhouseschool.co.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnL Alleyn’s Junior School Townley Road, London SE22 8SU T: 020 8557 1519 www.alleyns.org.uk Open Days: 24 April, 22 May & 26 June. nnnL Bassett House School 60 Bassett Road, London W10 6JP T: 020 8206 7431 www.bassetths.org.uk Open Days: 2 March. nnnnL

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Blackheath Preparatory School 4 St Germans Place, London SE3 ONJ T: 020 8858 0692 www.blackheathprepschool.com Open Days: Contact the school. nnnnL

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Broomwood Hall Lower School 192 Ramsden Road SW12, 50 Nightingale Lane SW12 & 3 Garrad’s Road, London SW16.

T: 020 8682 8830 www.broomwood.co.uk Open Days: 7 & 15 March. nnL

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The Minors Nursery School 10 Pembridge Square, London W2 4ED T: 020 7727 7253 www.minorsnurseryschool.co.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnL 155

Chepstow House 108a Lancaster Road, London W11 1QS T: 020 7243 0243 www.chepstowhouseschool.co.uk Open Days: 22 March & 13 June nnnnL

City of London School for Girls St Giles Terrace, London EC2Y 8BB T: 020 7847 5500 www.clsg.org.uk Open Days: 7+ 14 June, 11+ 22 June & 16+ 13 June. nn8 Croydon High Junior School Old Farleigh Road, Selsdon, South Croydon CR2 8YB T: 020 8260 7543 www.croydonhigh.gdst.net Open Days: Contact the school. nnnn8

PREPARATORY

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Broomwood Hall Upper School 68–74 Nightingale Lane, London SW12 8NR T: 020 8682 8810 www.broomwood.co.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nn8 Bute House Preparatory School Luxemburg Gardens, London W6 7EA T: 020 7603 7381 www.butehouse.co.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nn8

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BOARDING WEEKLY BOARDING FLEXIBOARDING BOARDING & DAY DAY

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University College School Pre-Prep 36 College Crescent, London NW3 5LF T: 020 7722 4433 www.ucs.org.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnnL

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Phileas Fox Multilingual Nursery St Mary’s Square, London W2 1SE www.phileasfoxnursery.com T: 020 7723 2106 Open Days: Contact the school. nnL

Thomas’s Kindergarten, Battersea St Mary’s Church, Battersea Church Road, London SW11 3NA T: 020 7738 0400 www.thomas-s.co.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnL

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NURSERY PRE PREP PREP SENIOR SIXTH FORM

Cameron House 4 The Vale, London SW3 6AH T: 020 7267 6266 www.cameronhouseschool.org Open Days: Contact the school nnnL

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Cumnor House School, Boys 168 Pampisford Road, South Croydon, Surrey CR2 6DA T: 020 8660 3445 www.cumnorhouse.com Open Days: 20 Feb, 19 Apr, 3 May & 19 June. nnn9

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Cumnor House School, Girls 11 Woodcote Lane, Purley, Surrey CR8 3HB T: 020 8660 3445 www.cumnorhouse.com Open Days: 27 Feb, 19 Apr, 1 May & 12 June. nnn8

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Devonshire House Prep School 2 Arkwright Rd, London NW3 6AE T: 020 7435 1916 www.devonshirehouseschool.co.uk Open Days: 2 & 3 May. nnnnL

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Eaton House Belgravia Prep 2 Elvaston Place, SW7 5QH T: 0207 924 6000 www.eatonhouseschools.com Open Days: Open house or individual tours. Book at www.eatonhouseschools.com nn9

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Eaton House The Manor Pre-Prep School 58 Clapham Common Northside, London SW4 9RU T: 020 7924 6000 www.eatonhouseschools.com Open Days: Weekly open house every Wednesday morning. Book at www.eatonhouseschools.com nn9

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Eaton House The Manor Prep School 58 Clapham Common Northside, London SW4 9RU T: 020 7924 6000 www.eatonhouseschools.com Open Days: Weekly open house every Wednesday morning. Book at www.eatonhouseschools.com nn9

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Eaton House The Manor Girls’ School 58 Clapham Common Northside, London SW4 9RU T: 020 7924 6000 www.eatonhouseschools.com Open Days: Weekly Open House every Wednesday morning. Book at www.eatonhouseschools.com nnn8

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Eaton Square School 79 Eccleston Square, London SW1V 1PP T: 020 7931 9469 www.eatonsquareschool.com Open Days: Contact the school. nnnnL

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L’Ecole de Battersea Trott Street, London SW11 3DS T: 020 7371 8350 www.lecoledespetits.co.uk Open Days: Weekly visits by arrangement. nnnnL

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L’Ecole des Petits 2 Hazlebury Road, London SW6 2NB T: 020 7371 8350 www.lecoledespetits.co.uk Open Days: Weekly Thursday morning visits by arrangement. nnnL

Dolphin School (inc Noah’s Ark Nursery Schools) 106 Northcote Road, London SW11 6QW T: 020 7924 3472 www.dolphinschool.org.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnnnL

Eltham College Junior School Mottingham Ln, Mottingham London SE9 4RW www.elthamcollege.london Open Days: Contact the school. nn9

Dulwich College Junior School Dulwich Common, London SE21 7LD T: 020 8299 8432 www.dulwich.org.uk/junior-school Open Days: Contact the school. nn9

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Dulwich Prep London 42 Alleyn Park, London SE21 7AA T: 020 8766 5525 www.dulwichpreplondon.org Open Days: Contact the school. nnL

Fairley House School 30 Causton St, London, SW1P 4AU T: 020 7976 5456 www.fairleyhouse.org.uk Open Days: Visits by appointment. nnnnL

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Durston House 12-14 Castlebar Road, London W5 2DR T: 020 8991 6532 www.durstonhouse.org Open Days: Contact the school. nnn9

The Falcons School for Boys 41 Kew Foot Road, TW9 2SS T: 020 8948 9490 www.falconsprep.co.uk Open Days: 17 March. nnnn9

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The Falcons School for Girls 11 Woodborough Road, London SW15 6PY T: 020 8992 5189 www.girls.co.uk Open Days: 3 Feb. nnnn8

Eaton House Belgravia Pre-Prep 3–5 Eaton Gate, London SW1W 9BA T: 0207 924 6000 www.eatonhouseschools.com Open Days: Open house or individual tours. Book at www. eatonhouseschools.com nn9

Falkner House 19 Brechin Place, London SW7 4QB T: 020 7373 4501 www.falknerhouse.co.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnnn8

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LONDON SCHOOLS

London James Allen’s Preparatory School 144 East Dulwich Grove, London SE22 8TE T: 020 8693 0374 www.jags.org.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnn8

Finton House 171 Trinity Road, London SW17 7HL T: 020 8682 0921 www.fintonhouse.org.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnnL Francis Holland School (Sloane Square) 39 Graham Terrace, London SW1W 8JF T: 020 7730 2971 www.fhs-sw1.org.uk Open Days: 5 Feb, 12 March, 23 April & 11 June. nnn8 141

Fulham Pre-Prep School 47A Fulham High Street, London SW6 3JJ T: 020 7371 9911 www.fulhamprep.co.uk Open Days: 13 March. nnL

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Fulham Prep School 200 Greyhound Road, London W14 9SD T: 020 7386 2444 www.fulhamprep.co.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnL

Kew College 24–26 Cumberland Road, Kew, Surrey TW9 3HQ T: 020 8940 2039 www.kewcollege.com Open Days: Contact the school. nnnnL

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Kew Green Preparatory School Layton House, Ferry Lane, Kew Green, Richmond TW9 3AF T: 020 8948 5999 www.kgps.co.uk Open Days: 7 Feb, 21 March, 9 May & 13 June. nnL

The Hampshire School 15 Manresa Road, London, SW3 6NB T: 020 7352 7077 www.thehampshireschoolchelsea. co.uk Open Days: Visit the website. nnnnL

Knightsbridge School 67 Pont Street, London SW1X 0BD T: 020 7590 9000 www.knightsbridgeschool.com Open Days: Contact the school. nnnL 151

Latymer Prep School 36 Upper Mall, London W6 9TA T: 020 7993 0061 www.latymerprep.org Open Days: 27 April & 14 May. nnL

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Lion House School Pre-Prep The Old Methodist Hall, Gwendolen Ave, London SW15 6EH T: 020 8780 9446 www.lionhouseschool.co.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnnL

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Hawkesdown House School 27 Edge Street, London W8 7PN T: 020 7727 9090 www.hawkesdown.co.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnn9 The Holmewood School 88 Woodside Park Rd, London, N12 8SH T: 020 8920 0669 www.thsl.org.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnnnL Hurlingham School 122 Putney Bridge Road, London SW15 2NQ T: 020 8874 7186 www.hurlinghamschool.co.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnnL Hyde Park School 24 Elvaston Place, London SW7 5NL T: 020 7225 3131 www.hydeparkschool.co.uk Open Days: 7 Feb & 21 March. nnnL

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King’s House School 61 Kings Rd, Richmond TW10 6EG. T: 020 8940 7015 www.kingshouseschool.org Open Days: Contact the school. nnnn9

Hampton Pre-Prep & Prep School Gloucester Road, Hampton, Middlesex TW12 2UQ T: 020 8979 1844 www.hamptonprep.org.uk Open Days: 23 Feb. nnnL

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Kensington Prep School GDST 596 Fulham Road, London SW6 5PA T: 020 7731 9300 www.kensingtonprep.gdst.net Open Days: Visit the website. nnn8

Garden House School Turks Row, London SW3 4TW T: 020 7330 1652 www.gardenhouseschool.co.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnnnL

Hampton Court House Hampton Court Road, East Molesey, KT8 9BS T: 020 8614 0857 www.hamptoncourthouse.co.uk Open Days: Early years 8 Feb. Lower years 22 Feb. Middle and upper 1 March. Sixth form 15 May. nnnnnnL

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Ibstock Place Prep Clarence Lane, London SW15 5PY T: 020 8392 5803 www.ibstockplaceschool.co.uk Open Days: 2 May & 20 June. nnnnL

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The Mall School 185 Hampton Road, Twickenham, TW2 5NQ T: 020 8977 2523 www.themallschool.org.uk Open Days: 20 Feb, 14 March, 2 May & 11 June. nnn9

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North Bridge House Prep 1 Gloucester Ave, London NW1 7AB T: 020 7267 6266 www.northbridgehouse.com Open Days: 9 Feb, 4 May & 14 June. nnL

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Northcote Lodge 26 Bolingbroke Grove, London SW11 6EL T: 020 8682 8830 www.northcotelodge.co.uk Open Days: 19 May. nn9 Notting Hill Preparatory School 95 Lancaster Road, London W11 1QQ T: 020 7221 0727 www.nottinghillprep.com Open Days: Every two weeks, contact the school. nn8

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Orchard House School 16 Newton Grove, London W4 1LB T: 020 8987 9886 www.orchardhs.org.uk Open Days: 8 March. nnL

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Orley Farm School South Hill Avenue, Harrow on the Hill HA1 3NU T: 020 8869 7634 www.orleyfarm.harrow.sch.uk Open Days: 12 May. nnnL

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Parsons Green Prep School 1 Fulham Park Road, London SW6 4LJ T: 020 7371 9009 www.parsonsgreenprep.co.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnL Pembridge Hall School 18 Pembridge Square, London W2 4EH T: 020 7229 0121 www.pembridgehall.co.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nn8

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The Merlin School 4 Carlton Drive, London SW15 2BZ T: 020 8788 2769 www.merlinschool.net Open Days: Contact the school. nnL 140

Milbourne Lodge School 43 Arbrook Lane, Esher, Surrey KT10 9EG T: 01372 462737 www.milbournelodge.co.uk Open Days: 9 March. nnnL

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Newton Prep 149 Battersea Park Road, London, SW8 4BX T: 020 7720 4091 www.newtonprepschool.co.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnnL

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North Bridge House Pre-Prep 8 Netherhall Gardens, Hampstead, London NW3 5RR T: 020 7267 6266 www.northbridgehouse.com Open Days: 6 & 27 Feb. nnL

Sinclair House School 59 Fulham High Street, London SW6 3JJ T: 020 7736 9182 www.sinclairhouseschool.co.uk Open Days: 15 March. nnnnL St Anthony’s School for Boys 90 Fitzjohn’s Avenue, London NW3 6NP T: 020 7435 3597 www.stanthonysprep.org.uk Open Days: Visit the website. nn9 177

St Anthony’s School for Girls Ivy House, North End Road, London NW11 7SX T: 020 3869 3070 www.stanthonysgirls.co.uk Open Days: Visit the website. nn8 St Benedict’s Junior School 5 Montpelier Avenue, London W5 2XP T: 020 8862 2254 www.stbenedicts.org.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnnnL St Dunstan’s College Junior School Stanstead Road, London SE6 4TY T: 020 8516 7200 www.stdunstans.org.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnnnL St James Junior School Earsby Street, London W14 8SH T: 020 7348 1793 www.stjamesschools.co.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnnL

151

St Nicholas Preparatory School 23 Princes Gate, London SW7 1PT T: 020 7225 1277 www.stnicholasprep.co.uk Open Days: 10 May. nnnnL

Prospect House School 75 Putney Hill, London SW15 3NT T: 020 8246 4897 www.prospecths.org.uk Open Days: 22 Feb. nnnnL

St Paul’s Juniors St Paul’s School, Lonsdale Road, London SW13 9JT T: 020 8748 3461 www.stpaulsschool.org.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nn9

Putney High Junior School 35 Putney Hill, London SW15 6BH T: 020 8788 6523 www.putneyhigh.gdst.net Open Days: Contact the school. nn8

Sussex House School 68 Cadogan Square, London SW1X 0EA T: 020 7584 1741 www.sussexhouseschool.co.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nn9

Queen’s College Prep School 61 Portland Place, London W18 1QP T: 020 7291 0660 www.qcps.org.uk Open Days: 8 Feb. nn8

160

Sydenham High Junior School GDST 15 Westwood Hill, London SE26 6BL T: 020 8557 7004 www.sydenhamhighschool.gdst.net Open Days: 21 March. nnn8

Queen’s Gate Junior School 131–133 Queen’s Gate, London SW7 5LE T: 020 7589 3587 www.queensgate.org.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnn8

157

The Study Preparatory School Wilberforce House, Camp Road, London SW19 4UN T: 020 8947 6969 www.thestudyprep.co.uk Open Days: 13 & 20 March. nnn8

158

Ravenscourt Park Preparatory School 16 Ravenscourt Ave, London W6 0SL T: 020 8846 9153 www.rpps.co.uk Open Days: 6 March, 3 May & 14 June. nnnL

156

Redcliffe School 47 Redcliffe Gardens, London SW10 9JH T: 020 7352 9247 www.redcliffeschool.com Open Days: Tours every Tues and Thurs. Please call to book. nnnnL

Thomas’s Battersea 28-40 Battersea High Street, London SW11 3JB T: 020 7978 0900 www.thomas-s.co.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnnL Thomas’s Clapham Broomwood Road, London SW11 6JZ T: 020 7326 9300 www.thomas-s.co.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnnL

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LONDON SCHOOLS

n n n n n

Thomas’s Fulham Hugon Road, London SW6 3ES T: 020 7751 8200 www.thomas-s.co.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnnL

162

Thomas’s Kensington 17–19 Cottesmore Gardens, London W8 5PR T: 020 7361 6500 www.thomas-s.co.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnnL Tower House Prep 188 Sheen Lane, London SW14 8LF T: 020 8876 3323 www.thsboys.org.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnn9 University College Junior School 11 Holly Hill, London NW3 6QN T: 020 7435 3068 www.ucs.org.uk Open Days: 7 June. nn9 103

Wetherby Kensington 4 Wetherby Gardens SW5 0JN T: 0203 910 9760 www.wetherby-kensington.co.uk Open Days: Contact the school. n9

103

Wetherby School 11 Pembridge Square, London W2 4ED T: 020 7727 9581 www.wetherbyschool.co.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nn9

103

Wetherby Preparatory School Bryanston Square, London W1H 2EA T: 020 7535 3520 www.wetherbyprep.co.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nn9

160 161

The White House Preparatory School & Woodentops Kindergarten 24 Thornton Road, London SW12 0LF T: 020 8674 9514 www.whitehouseschool.com Open Days: 19 May. nnnL

City of London School for Girls St Giles’ Terrace, London EC2Y 8BB T: 020 7847 5565 www.clsg.org.uk Open Days: 13 & 22 June. nn8 162

164

Alleyn’s School Townley Road, London SE22 8SU T: 020 8557 1500 www.alleyns.org.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnnnL

75 136

163

Channing School The Bank, Highgate London N6 5HF T: 020 8340 2328 www.channing.co.uk Open Days: Contact the school nnnnn8

In partnership with

Listings Sept 17 1.indd 257

166

Eaton Square Upper School 106 Piccadilly London W1J 7NL T: 020 7491 7393 www.eatonsquareupper.school Open Days: 7 Feb, 1 May & 14 June. nnnnL

Fairley House School 30 Causton Street, London SW1P 4AU T: 020 79765456 www.fairleyhouse.org.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnnnL 164

Forest School College Place, London E17 3PY T: 020 8520 1744 www.forest.org.uk Open Days: 25 June. nnnnL

168

170

Fulham Senior School 200 Greyhound Rd, London W14 9SD T: 020 7386 2444 www.fulhamprep.co.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnnL

166

BOARDING WEEKLY BOARDING FLEXIBOARDING BOARDING & DAY DAY

8 9 L

GIRLS BOYS MIXED MIXED SIXTH FORM SpLD

Godolphin and Latymer School Iffley Road, London W6 0PG T: 020 8741 1936 www.godolphinandlatymercom Open Days: Contact the school. nn8

167

The John Lyon School Middle Road, Harrow on the Hill HA2 0HN T: 020 8515 9400 www.johnlyon.org Open Days: 15 May. nnn9

Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys’ School Butterfly Lane, Elstree, WD6 3AF T: 020 8266 1700 www.habsboys.org.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnnnn9

171

Kensington Park School (Years 7-11) 40-45 Bark Place, London W2 4AT T: 020 7225 0577 www.kps.co.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnL

Haberdashers’ Aske’s School for Girls Aldenham Road, Elstree WD6 3BT T: 020 8266 2300 www.habsgirls.org.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnnn8

171

Kensington Park School Sixth Form 59 Queen’s Gate, London SW7 5JP T: 020 7225 0577 www.kps.co.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnL

Halliford School Russell Road, Shepperton TW17 9HX T: 01932 223593 www.hallifordschool.co.uk Open Days: 1 & 6 March & 3 May. nnn9

169

Kew House School 6 Capital Interchange Way, London TW8 0EX T: 020 8742 2038 www.kewhouseschool.com Open Days: 8 Feb, 8 & 21 March, 2 May, 25 & 29 June nnnL

Hampton Court House Hampton Court Road, East Molesey, KT8 9BS T: 020 8614 0857 www.hamptoncourthouse. co.uk Open Days: Early Years 8 Feb. Lower Years 22 Feb. Middle & Upper Years 1 March. Sixth-form 15 March. nnnnnL

King’s College School Southside, Wimbledon Common, London SW19 4TT T: 020 8255 5300 www.kcs.org.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnnn9 Kingston Grammar School London Rd, Kingston upon Thames KT2 6PY T: 020 8546 5875 www.kgs.org.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnnL 173

Harrow School 5 High Street, Harrow on the Hill HA1 3HP T: 020 8872 8007 www.harrowschool.org.uk Open Days: 24 Feb & 21 April. nnn9

Lady Eleanor Holles Hanworth Road, Hampton TW12 3HF T: 020 8979 1601 www.lehs.org.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnnn8 The Moat School Bishop’s Avenue, Fulham SW6 6EG T: 020 7610 9018 www.moatschool.org.uk Open Days: 15 Feb. nnnnL

Highgate School North Road, London N6 4AY T: 020 8340 1524 www.highgateschool.org.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnnnL The Holmewood School 88 Woodside Park Rd, London N12 8SH T: 020 8920 0669 www.thsl.org.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnnnL

Francis Holland School (Sloane Square, SW1) 39 Graham Terrace, London SW1W 8JF T: 020 7730 2971 www.fhs-sw1.org.uk Open Days: 21 March, 14 & 22 June. nnn8 165

n n n n n

Hampton School Hanworth Rd, Hampton TW12 3HD T: 020 8979 9273 www.hamptonschool.org.uk Open Days: 6 & 19 March & 26 April. nnn9

Francis Holland School (Regent’s Park, NW1) Ivor Place, London NW1 6XR T: 020 7723 0176 www.fhs-nw1.org.uk Open Days: 21 & 28 June. nnn8

Blackheath High School Vanbrugh Park, London SE3 7AG T: 020 8853 2929 www.blackheathhighschool. gdst.net Open Days: Contact the school. nnn8 Bromley High School, GDST Blackbrook Lane, Bromley, BR1 2TW T: 020 8781 7001 www.bromleyhigh.gdst.net Open Days: 4 May. nnnnn8

DLD College 199 Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 7FX T: 020 7935 8411 www.dldcollege.co.uk Open Days: 8 May. nnL

Eltham College Grove Park Rd, Mottingham, London SE9 4QF T: 020 8857 1455 www.elthamcollege.london Open Days: 8 & 22 March. nnnnL

Ashbourne College 17 Old Court Place, London W8 4PL T: 020 7937 3858 www.ashbournecollege.co.uk Open Days: Contact the college. nnL 163

Croydon High School Old Farleigh Road, Selsdon, South Croydon CR2 8YB T: 020 8260 7543 www.croydonhigh.gdst.net Open Days: Contact the school. nnnnnn8

Dulwich College Dulwich Common, London SE21 7LD T: 020 8299 9263 www.dulwich.org.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnnnnnn8

SENIOR 162

City of London School Queen Victoria Street, London EC4V 3AL T: 020 3680 6300 www.cityoflondonschool.org. uk Open Days: Contact the school. nn9

NURSERY PRE PREP PREP SENIOR SIXTH FORM

Latymer Upper School King Street, London W6 9LR T: 020 7993 0063 www.latymer–upper.org Open Days: Contact the school. nnL 167

Lycée International de Londres 1 Kings Drive, Wembley HA9 9HP T: 020 3824 4900 www.lyceeinternational.london Open Days: Contact the school nnnnnL

James Allen’s Girls’ School 144 East Dulwich Grove, London SE22 8TE T: 020 8693 1181 www.jags.org.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nn8

170

Marymount International School London George Road, Kingston upon Thames KT2 7PE T: 020 8949 0571 www.marymountlondon.com Open Days: 10 March. nnnn8

Ibstock Place School Clarence Lane, London SW15 5PY T: 020 8392 5803 www.ibstockplaceschool.co.uk Open Days: 9 May. nnnnnnL

175

Merchant Taylors’ School Sandy Lodge, Northwood HA6 2HT T: 01923 845514 www.mtsn.org.uk Open Day: 12 May. nnn9

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LONDON / COUNTRY SCHOOLS

London 176

More House School 22–24 Pont Street, London SW1X 0AA T: 020 7235 2855 www.morehouse.org.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnn9

113

MPW London 90–92 Queen’s Gate, London SW7 5AB T: 020 7835 1355 www.mpw.ac.uk Open Days: 6 Feb, 24 April & 20 June. nnnL

Home Counties South St Dunstan’s College Stanstead Road, London SE6 4TY T: 020 8516 7200 www.stdunstans.org.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnnnnnL 174

172

172

177

178

178

179

Northwood College for Girls GDST Maxwell Road, Northwood, HA6 2YE T: 01923 825446 www.northwoodcollege.gdst.net Open Days: 21 March (junior) 23 Feb & 3 May (senior). nnnnn8 Old Palace of John Whitgift School Old Palace Road, Croydon CR0 1AX T: 020 8688 2027 www.oldpalace.croydon.sch.uk Open Days: 24 Feb, 21 April & 9 May. nnnnnn8

180

181

Sydenham High Senior School GDST 19 Westwood Hill, London SE26 6BL T: 020 8557 7004 www.sydenhamhighschool.gdst.net Open Days: 13 March. nnn8

Queen’s Gate 131-133 Queen’s Gate, London SW7 5LE. T: 020 7589 3587 www.queensgate.org.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnnnn8

Westminster School Little Dean’s Yard, London SW1P 3PF T: 020 7963 1003 www.westminster.org.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnnnn9

In partnership with

Listings Sept 17 1.indd 258

54 55 181

Wetherby Senior School 100 Marylebone Lane, London W1U 2QU T: 020 7535 3530 www.wetherbysenior.co.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nn9

180

Whitgift School Haling Park, South Croydon CR2 6YT T: 020 8688 9222 www.whitgift.co.uk Open Days: Contact the school nnnnnn9 Wimbledon High School GDST Mansel Road, London SW19 4AB T: 020 8971 0900 www.wimbledonhigh.gdst.net Open Days: 21 & 28 March, 18 April. nnnnn8

184

Breaside School 41– 43 Orchard Road, Bromley, Kent, BR1 2PR T: 020 8460 0916 www.breaside.co.uk Open Days: 21 March. nnnnL

ACS International Egham London Road, Egham, Surrey TW20 0HS T: 01784 430611 www.acs-schools.com/acs-egham Open Days: 3 March nnnnnnL

11

Brighton College Eastern Road, Brighton BN2 0AL T: 01273 704200 www.brightoncollege.org.uk Open Days: 21 & 28 April. nnnnnnnL

184

Brockwood Park School Bramdean, Hampshire SO24 0LQ T: 01962 771744 www.brockwood.org.uk Open Days: 10 March. nnnnnL

189

Caterham School Harestone Valley Rd, Caterham, Surrey CR3 6YA T: 01883 343028 www.caterhamschool.co.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnnnnnnnL

17

Charterhouse Godalming, Surrey GU7 2DX T: 01483 291501 www.charterhouse.org.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnn9

15 191

Christ’s Hospital School Horsham,West Sussex RH13 0YP. T: 01403 211293 www.christs-hospital.org.uk Open Days: 24 Feb. nnL

Aldro Lombard St, Shackleford, Godalming, Surrey GU8 6AS T: 01483 409019 www.aldro.org Open Days: 3 March. nnnn9

Ashdown House Forest Row, East Sussex RH18 5JY T: 01342 822574 www.ashdownhouse.co.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnnnnL Barrow Hills School Roke Lane, Witley, Surrey GU8 5NY T: 01428 683639 www.barrowhills.org.uk Open Days: 5 Feb. nnnnL

185

Trinity School Shirley Park, Croydon CR9 7AT T: 020 8656 9541 www.trinity-school.org Open Days: Contact the school. nnn9 University College School Frognal, London NW3 6XH T: 020 7433 2117 www.ucs.org.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnn9

St Benedict’s School 54 Eaton Rise, London W5 2ES T: 020 8862 2254 www.stbenedicts.org.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnnL

185

Sutton High School GDST 55 Cheam Road, Sutton SM1 2AX T: 020 8642 0594 www.suttonhigh.gdst.net Open Days: 14 March & 21 June. nnnnnn8

Putney High School 35 Putney Hill, London SW15 6BH T: 020 8788 4886 www.putneyhigh.gdst.net Open Days: 9 March. nnnnn8

South Hampstead High School GDST 3 Maresfield Gardens, London NW3 5SS T: 020 7435 2899 www.shhs.gdst.net Open Days: Contact the school. nnnnn8 179

Streatham and Clapham High GDST 42 Abbotswood Road, London SW16 1AW T: 020 3123 9102 www.schs.gdst.net Open Days: 9 March (senior) 16 March (prep) & 18 April (pre-prep) nnnnn8

ACS International Cobham Portsmouth Road, Cobham, Surrey KT11 1BL T: 01932 869744 www.acs-schools.com/acs-cobham Open Days: 10 February. nnnnnnnnL

Ardingly College College Rd, Haywards Heath, West Sussex RH17 6SQ T: 01444 893000 www.ardingly.com Open Days: 2, 10 & 16 March, 5, 7 & 11 May. nnnnnnL

St Paul’s Girls’ School Brook Green, London W6 7BS T: 020 7605 4882 www.spgs.org Open Days: Contact the school. nn8

Portland Place School 56-58 Portland Place, London W1B 1NJ T: 020 7307 8700 www.portland-place.co.uk Open Days: 1 & 14 March. nnnnL

Queenswood Shepherd’s Way, Brookmans Park, Hatfield AL9 6NS T: 01707 602500 www.queenswood.org Open Days: 17 March. nnnnn8

183

St Paul’s School Lonsdale Rd, London SW13 9JT T: 020 8748 9162 www.stpaulsschool.org.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnn9

North Bridge House, Hampstead 65 Rosslyn Hill, London NW3 5UD T: 0207267 6266 www.northbridgehouse.com Open Days: 20 Feb & 28 Feb, 6 & 13 March. nnL North London Collegiate School Canons, Canons Drive, Edgware HA8 7RJ T: 020 8952 0912 www.nlcs.org.uk Open Days: Visit the website. nnnnn8

176

St Helen’s School Eastbury Road, Northwood HA6 3AS T: 01923 843210 www.sthelens.london Open Days: 13 June nnnnnn8 St James Senior Girls’ School Earsby Street, London W14 8SH T: 020 7348 1748 www.stjamesschools.co.uk Open Days: 23 January & 2 May. nnn8

North Bridge House, Canonbury 6-9 Canonbury Place, London N1 2NQ T: 020 7267 6266 www.northbridgehouse.com Open Days: 9, 16 & 22 March. nnL

40

6 187

6 187

Bedales Steep, Petersfield, Hampshire GU32 2DG T: 01730 711733 www.bedales.org.uk Open Days: 3 Feb, 3 March & 12 May. nnnnnnnnL Bede’s Prep School Duke’s Drive, Eastbourne East Sussex BN20 7XL T: 01323 734222 www.bedes.org Open Days: 3 March. nnL Bede’s Senior School Upper Dicker, East Sussex BN27 3QH T: 01323 843252 www.bedes.org Open Days: 10 March. nnnL Benenden Cranbrook, Kent TN17 4AA T: 01580 240592 www.benenden.kent.sch.uk Open Days: 8, 15 & 17 March, 19 April, 12 May, 7, 14 & 16 June. nnn8

67

Claremont Fan Court School Claremont Drive, Esher Surrey KT10 9LY T: 01372 467841 www.claremont-school.co.uk Open Days: 3, 19 Feb, 10 & 19 March, 23 & 30 April. nnnnnL

Brambletye East Grinstead, Sussex RH19 3PD T: 01342 321004 www.brambletye.co.uk Open Days: 9 & 10 March nnnL

Cobham Hall Brewers Rd, Cobham, Kent DA12 3BL T: 01474 823371 www.cobhamhall.com Open Days: 28 April. nnn8 188

Copthorne Preparatory School Effingham Lane, Copthorne West Sussex,RH10 3HR T: 01342 710200 www.copthorneprep.co.uk Open Days: 3 Feb & 17 Mar. nnnnL

190

Cranleigh Preparatory School Horseshoe Lane, Cranleigh, Surrey GU6 8QH T: 01483 542051 www.cranprep.org Open Days: Contact the school. nnnL

22 190

Cranleigh School Horseshoe Lane, Cranleigh, Surrey GU6 8QQ T: 01483 273666 www.cranleigh.org Open Days: Contact the school. nnnnL

186

Cranmore School Epsom Road, West Horsley, Surrey KT24 6AT T: 01483 280355 www.cranmoreprep.co.uk Open Days: 3 March & 27 April. nnnnL

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COUNTRY SCHOOLS

n n n n n

188

Cottesmore School Buchan Hill, Pease Pottage, Crawley, West Sussex RH11 9AU T: 01293 520648 www.cottesmoreschool.com Open Days: 24 Feb. nnnL

193

Cumnor House Sussex London Rd, Danehill, Haywards Heath, Sussex RH17 7HT T: 01825 792006 www.cumnor.co.uk Open Days: 2 Feb & 8 May. nnnnL 60

Danes Hill School Leatherhead Rd, Oxshott, Surrey KT22 0JG T: 01372 842509 www.daneshillschool.co.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnnnL

191

Dover College Effingham Crescent, Dover, Kent CT17 9RH T: 01304 205969 www.dovercollege.org.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnnnnL

192

Downsend School 1 Leatherhead Rd, Leatherhead, Surrey KT22 8TJ T: 01372 372197 www.downsend.co.uk Open Days: 26 Feb, 2 March & 12 May. nnnnL Dulwich Preparatory School Coursehorn, Cranbrook, Kent TN17 3NP T: 01580 712179 www.dcpskent.org Open Days: 5 March. nnnnnnL Dunottar School High Trees Rd, Reigate, Surrey RH2 7EL T: 01737 761945 www.dunottarschool.com Open Days: 21 Feb, 24 April & 27 June. nnL

192

Eastbourne College Old Wish Rd, Eastbourne BN21 4JY T: 01323 452300 www.eastbourne-college.co.uk Open Days: 3 March & 16 June. nnnnnnnL

184

Edgeborough School Frensham, Surrey, GU10 3AH T: 01252 792495 www.edgeborough.co.uk Open Days: 9 March. nnnnL Epsom College College Road, Surrey KT17 4JQ T: 01372 821234 www.epsomcollege.org.uk Open Days: 10 March. nnnL Ewell Castle School Church St, Ewell, Surrey KT17 2AW T: 020 8394 3576 www.ewellcastle.co.uk Open Days: 6 March, 24 April & 7 June. nnnnnnL

186

Farringtons School Perry St, Chislehurst, Kent BR7 6LR T: 020 8467 0256 www.farringtons.org.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnnnnnnnL

In partnership with

Listings Sept 17 1.indd 259

Forres Sandle Manor School Fordingbridge, Hampshire SP6 1NS T: 01425 653181 www.fsmschool.com Open Days: Contact the school. nnnnnnnnL

The King’s School, Canterbury Canterbury, Kent CT1 2ES T: 01227 595579 www.kings-school.co.uk Open Days: 10 March, 16 & 23 June. nnnnnL

Guildford High School London Rd Guildford, Surrey GU1 1SJ. T: 01483 543853 www.guildfordhigh.surrey.sch.uk Open Days: 1 & 28 Feb, 7 & 13 March, 25 April, 3 & 8 May, 5 & 14 June. nnnnn8 Handcross Park School London Road, Handcross, West Sussex RH17 6HF T: 01444 400526 www.handcrossparkschool.co.uk Open Days: 3 March. nnnnL

87

Hampshire Collegiate School Embley Park, Romsey, Hampshire S051 6ZE T: 01794 512206 www.hampshirecs.org.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnnnnL

195

Highfield and Brookham Schools Highfield Lane, Liphook, Hampshire GU30 7LQ T: 01428 728000 www.highfieldschool.org.uk Open Days: 24 Feb. nnnL

Kent College, Canterbury Whitstable Rd, Canterbury, Kent CT2 9DT T: 01227 763231 www.kentcollege.co.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnnnL King Edward’s Witley Godalming, Surrey GU8 5SG T: 01428 686700 www.kesw.org Open Days: 15 March & 26 April. nnnnnnL 195

8

King’s School, Rochester Satis House, Boley Hill, Rochester, Kent ME1 1TE T: 01634 888555 www.kings-rochester.co.uk Open Days: 24 Feb. nnnnnnnnL

Lanesborough Prep School Maori Rd, Guildford, Surrey GU1 2EL T: 01483 880650 www.lanesborough.surrey.sch.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnnn9

Hoe Bridge School Hoe Place, Old Woking Rd, Woking, Surrey GU22 8JE T: 01483 227909 www.hoebridgeschool.co.uk Open Days: 6 March. nnnnL Holmewood House School Langton Green, Tunbridge Wells TN3 0EB T: 01892 860006 www.holmewoodhouse.co.uk Open Days: 2 March. nnnnnnL

Longacre School Hullbrook Ln, Shamley Green, Guildford, Surrey GU5 0NQ T: 01483 893225 www.longacreschool.co.uk Open Days: 8 Feb & 2 May. nnnnL

Hurstpierpoint College College Ln, Hurstpierpoint, West Sussex BN6 9JS T: 01273 833636 www.hppc.co.uk Open Days: 3 March & 12 May. nnnnnnnL

Manor House School Manor House Lane, Little Bookham, Leatherhead, Surrey KT23 4EN T: 01372 457077 www.manorhouseschool.org Open Days: 7 & 22 Feb & 1 May. nnnnn8

Hurtwood House Holmbury St Mary, Dorking, Surrey RH5 6NU T: 01483 279000 www.hurtwoodhouse.com Open Days: Headmaster’s interviews by appointment only. nnnL

194

Mayfield School The Old Palace, Mayfield, East Sussex, TN20 6PH T: 01435 874642 www.mayfieldgirls.org Open Days: 13 March & 26 April. nnnnn8

GIRLS BOYS MIXED MIXED SIXTH FORM SpLD

201

Parkside School The Manor, Stoke D’Abernon, Cobham,Surrey KT11 3PX T: 01932 862749 www.parkside-school.co.uk Open Days: 11 May. nnn n9

196

The Pilgrims’ School The Close, Winchester SO23 9LT T: 01962 854189 www.thepilgrims–school.co.uk Open Days: Visit the website. nnn9

196

Reed’s School Sandy Lane, Cobham, Surrey KT11 2ES T: 01932 869001 www.reeds.surrey.sch.uk Open Days: 24 Feb & 12 May nnnn9

197

Reigate Grammar School Reigate Road, Reigate, Surrey RH2 0QS T: 01737 222231 www.reigategrammar.org Open Days: 8 March. nnnnL

Lancing College Lancing, West Sussex BN15 0RW T: 01273 465805 www.lancingcollege.co.uk Open Days: 5 May. nnnnnL

Lancing College Prep at Worthing Broadwater Rd, Worthing, West Sussex BN14 8HU T: 01903 201123 www.lancingcollege.co.uk Open Days: 10 March. nnnnL

8 9 L

More House School Moons Hill, Frensham, Farnham, Surrey GU10 3AP T: 01252 792303 www.morehouseschool.co.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnnn8

Reigate St Mary’s Chart Lane, Reigate, Surrey RH2 7RN T: 01737 244880 www.reigatestmarys.org Open Days: 14 March & 16 May. nnnL

Lancing College Prep at Hove The Droveway, Hove, East Sussex BN3 6LU T: 01273 503452 www.lancingcollege.co.uk Open Days: 16 March. nnnnL

Hilden Grange Preparatory School Dry Hill Park Road, Tonbridge, Kent TN10 3BX T: 01732 351169 www.hildengrange.co.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnnL

194

BOARDING WEEKLY BOARDING FLEXIBOARDING BOARDING & DAY DAY

Junior King’s School Canterbury Milner Court, Sturry, Kent CT2 0AY T: 01227 714000 www.junior-kings.co.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnnL

123

186

n n n n n

Feltonfleet Byfleet Road, Cobham, Surrey KT11 1DR T: 01932 862264 www.feltonfleet.co.uk Open Days: 23 Feb & 4 May. nnnnnL

Frensham Heights Rowledge, Farnham, Surrey GU10 4EA T: 01252 792561 www.frensham.org Open Days: Contact the school. nnnnnnnnL 193

NURSERY PRE PREP PREP SENIOR SIXTH FORM

Roedean Roedean Way, Brighton BN2 5RQ T: 01273 667500 www.roedean.co.uk Open Days: 3 March & 7 May. nnnnnn8 203

Rowan Prep School 6 Fitzalan Road, Claygate, Esher, Surrey, KT10 0LX T: 01372 462627 www.rowanprepschool.co.uk Open Days: 8 & 27 Feb & 6 March. nnn8

200

The Royal Alexandra and Albert School Gatton Park, Reigate, Surrey RH2 0TD T: 01737 649000 www.raa-school.co.uk Open Days: 17 March & 19 May. nnnnnL

197 201

The Royal Grammar School, Guildford High St, Guildford, Surrey GU1 3BB T: 01483 880600 www.rgs-guildford.co.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnn9 Ryde School Queen’s Road, Ryde, Isle of Wight PO33 3BE T: 01893 617970 www.rydeschool.org.uk Open Days: 3 Feb. nnnnL

198

Seaford College Lavington Park, Petworth, West Sussex GU28 0NB T: 01798 867392 www.seaford.org Open Days: 6 May nnnnnL

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COUNTRY SCHOOLS

Home Counties South 202

Sevenoaks Prep School Godden Green, Sevenoaks, Kent TN15 0JU T: 01732 762336 www.theprep.org.uk Open Days: Open to visits any day during term time. nnnL

199 202

Sevenoaks School Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 1HU T: 01732 455133 www.sevenoaksschool.org Open Days: 17 March & 16 June. nnnL Sherfield School Sherfield-on-Loddon, Hook, Hampshire RG27 0HU T: 01256 884800 www.sevenoaksschool.org Open Days: Contact the school. nnnnnnL

203

204

198

204

24

206

St Catherine’s, Bramley Station Rd, Bramley, Guildford GU5 0DF T: 01483 899609 www.stcatherines.info Open Days: 7 March, 4 May & 25 June. nnnnnnn8

206

St Lawrence College Ramsgate, Kent CT11 7AE T: 01843 572931 www.slcuk.com Open Days: Contact the school. nnnnnnL 199

Trinity School 10-13 New Road, Rochester, Kent MW1 1BG T: 01634 812233 www.trinityschoolrochester.co.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnnnnL

St Andrew’s Prep Meads, Eastbourne, East Sussex BN20 7RP T: 01323 733203 www.standrewsprep.co.uk Open Days: 23, 24 Feb & 28 Apr. nnnnL

St Edmund’s School Canterbury St Thomas’ Hill, Canterbury, Kent CT2 8HU T: 01227 475601 www.stedmunds.org.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnnnnnL

St Swithun’s School Alresford Road, Winchester, Hampshire SO21 1HA T: 01962 835700 www.stswithuns.com Open Days: 21 Feb, 16 May & 23 June. nnnn8

13

208

Tormead School Cranley Rd, Guildford, Surrey GU1 2JD T: 01483 796040 www.tormeadschool.org.uk Open Days: 2 March, 27 April & 12 June (Junior). 8, 20 March & 25 April (Senior). nnnnn8

In partnership with

Listings Sept 17 1.indd 260

ACS International Hillingdon 108 Vine Lane, Hillingdon, Middlesex UB10 0BE T: 01895 818402 www.acs-schools.com/acshillingdon Open Days: 17 March nnnnnnL

Twyford School Twyford, Winchester, Hampshire SO21 1NW T: 01962 714 622 www.twyfordschool.com Open Days: 21 Feb. nnnnnnL Walhampton Lymington, Hampshire SO41 5ZG T: 01590 613300 www.walhampton.com Open Days: 2 Feb & 11 May. nnnnnnL Walthamstow Hall Holly Bush Ln, Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 3UL T: 01732 451334 www.walthamstow–hall.co.uk Open Days: 8 March. nnnnnn8 Walthamstow Hall Junior School Bradbourne Park Road, Sevenoaks Kent TN13 3LD T: 01732 451334 www.walthamstow–hall.co.uk Open Days: 8 March. nnnn8 Wellington College Crowthorne, Berkshire RG45 7PU T: 01344 444013 www.wellingtoncollege.org.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnnL Westbourne House School Coach Rd, Chichester, West Sussex PO20 2BH T: 01243 782739 www.westbournehouse.org Open Days: Contact the school. nnnnnnL

205

Windlesham House School Washington, Pulborough West Sussex RH20 4AY T: 01903 874701 www.windlesham.com Open Days: 19 May. nnnnL Woldingham School Marden Park, Woldingham, Surrey CR3 7YA. T: 01883 654206 www.woldinghamschool.co.uk Open Days: 28 April. nnnn8

208

Worth School Paddock Road, Turners Hill, West Sussex RH10 4SD T: 01342 710200 www.worthschool.org.uk Open Days: 3 Feb & 17 Mar. nnnL

209 211

Caldicott Crown Lane, Farnham Royal, Bucks SL2 3SL T: 01753 649301 www.caldicott.com Open Days: 9 June. nn9

212

Cheam School Headley, Newbury, Berkshire RG19 8LD T: 01635 267822 www.cheamschool.com Open Days: Visits by appointment. nnnnnnL

The Abbey School Kendrick Road, Reading, Berkshire RG1 5DZ T: 0118 9872256 www.theabbey.co.uk Open Days: 2 Feb (Junior) & 2 March (Senior). nnnnn8 209

209

211

210

Winchester College College St, Winchester, SO23 9NA T: 01962 621100 www.winchestercollege.org Open Days: 21 April, 5 May. nnnn9

TASIS (The American School in England) Coldharbour Lane, Thorpe, Surrey TW20 8TEP T: 01932 565 252 www.england.tasis.com Open Days: 17 March. nnnnnnL Tonbridge School High St, Tonbridge, Kent TN9 1JP T: 01732 304297 www.tonbridge-school.co.uk Open Days: 10 March, 12 May nnnn9

Home Counties North

Ashfold School Dorton House, Dorton, Bucks HP18 9NG T: 01844 238237 www.ashfoldschool.co.uk Open Days: 12 May. nnnnnL

212

Beachborough School Westbury, Nr. Brackley, Northants NN13 5LB T: 01280 700071 www.beachborough.com Open Days: 10 March & 11 May. nnnnL The Beacon School 15 Amersham Rd, Chesham Bois, Amersham, Bucks HP6 5PF T: 01494 433654 www.beaconschool.co.uk Open Days: 11 May. nnn9

Berkhamsted School Castle Campus, Castle St, Berkhamsted, Herts HP4 2BB T: 01422 358000 www.berkhamstedschool.org Open Days: 2 March, 11 May (Junior). nnnnnnL Bradfield College Bradfield, Berkshire RG7 6AU T: 0118 964 4516 www.bradfieldcollege.org.uk Open Days: Every Saturday by appointment. nnL

d’Overbroeck’s 333 Banbury Road, OX2 7PL T: 01865 310000 www.doverbroecks.com Open Days: Contact the school. nnnL Downe House Cold Ash, Thatcham, Berkshire RG18 9JJ T: 01635 204701 www.downehouse.net Open Days: 17 March, 21 April & 16 June nnnn8

209 213

Bedford School De Parys Ave, Bedford, Bedfordshire MK40 2TU T: 01234 362216 www.bedfordschool.org.uk Open Days: 21 April. nnn9 Beechwood Park Markyate, Herts AL3 8AW T: 01582 840333 www.beechwoodpark.com Open Days: 25 May. nnnnnnnL

210

Cothill House Abingdon, Oxon, OX13 6JL T: 01865 390800 www.cothill.net Open Days: 13 May. nnnnnnL

The Dragon School Bardwell Rd, Oxford OX2 6SS T: 01865 315405 www.dragonschool.org Open Days: 3 March & 12 May. nnnL Eton College Windsor, Berkshire, SL4 6DW T: 01753 370611 www.etoncollege.com Open Days: Contact the school. nn9

213

Elstree School Woolhampton, Reading, Berkshire RG7 5TD T: 0118971 3302 www.elstreeschool.org.uk Open Days: 3 March, 12 May. nnnnn9

214

Farleigh School Red Rice, Andover, Hampshire SP11 7PW T: 01264 712838 www.farleighschool.com Open Days: 10 March. nnnnnnL Felsted Preparatory School Felsted, Essex CM6 3JL T: 01371 822611 www.felsted.org/prephome Open Days: 12 May. nnnnnL

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COUNTRY SCHOOLS

n n n n n

71

Felsted School Felsted, Essex CM6 3LL T: 01371 822600 www.felsted.org Open Days: 12 May nnnnL

214

Haileybury Haileybury, Hertford SG13 7NU T: 01992 706353 www.haileybury.com Open Days: 17 March. nnnL

216

216

Heathfield School London Road, Ascot SL5 8BQ T: 01344 898 342 www.heathfieldschool.net Open Days: 17 March, 12 May. nnnn8 215

215

217

Horris Hill Newtown, Newbury, Berkshire RG20 9DJ T: 01635 40594 www.horrishill.com Open Days: 24 Feb. nn9 Lambrook School Winkfield Road, Nr Ascot Berkshire RG42 6LU T: 01344 882717 www.lambrookschool.co.uk Open Days: 12 May nnnnnnL Ludgrove School Ludgrove, Wokingham, Berkshire RG40 3AB T: 01189 789881 www.ludgrove.net Open Days: Contact the school. nn9 Maidwell Hall Maidwell, Northants NN6 9JG T: 01604 686234 www.maidwellhall.co.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnL

217

214

216

Maltman’s Green School Maltman’s Lane, Gerrard’s Cross, Bucks SL9 8RR T: 01753 883022 www.maltmansgreen.com Open Days: Contact the school nnnn8 Moulsford Preparatory School Moulsford-on-Thames, Oxfordshire OX10 9HR T: 01491 651438 www.moulsford.com Open Days: 11 May. nnnn9 New Hall School The Avenue, Boreham, Chelmsford, Essex CM3 3HS T: 01245 236098 www.newhallschool.co.uk Open Days: 5 May nnnnL

In partnership with

Listings Sept 17 1.indd 261

219

219 221

219

Pipers Corner School Pipers Lane, Great Kingshill, High Wycombe, Bucks HP15 6LP T: 01494 718255 www.piperscorner.co.uk Open Days: 1 May. nnnnn8

218

Princess Helena College Preston, Hertfordshire SG4 7RT T: 01462 432100 www.princesshelenacollege.co.uk Open Days: 3 March, 8 March. nnnnn8

221

Queen Anne’s School Henley Rd, Caversham, Berkshire RG4 6DX T: 01189 187333 www.qas.org.uk Open Days: 9 March, 12 May & 8 June. nnn8

179

Queenswood Shepherd’s Way, Brookmans Park, Hatfield, Herts AL9 6NS T: 01707 602500 www.queenswood.org Open Days: 17 March. nnn8

223

Stowe School Stowe, Buckingham MK18 5EH. T: 01280 818205 www.stowe.co.uk Open Days: 3 March, 28 April. nnnL Summer Fields Mayfield Road, Oxford OX2 7EN T: 01865 459 204 www.summerfields.com Open Days: 12 May. nn9

222

St Albans High School for Girls Townsend Ave, St Albans, Hertfordshire AL1 3SJ T: 01727 853800 www.stahs.org.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnnnn8

220

18

222

Tring Park School for the Performing Arts Mansion Drive, Tring, Herts HP23 5LX T: 01442 824255 www.tringpark.com Open Days: 16 March. nnnnL 220

St Edward’s Oxford Woodstock Rd, Oxford, OX2 7NN T: 01865 319200 www.stedwardsoxford.org Open Days: 12 May. nnL St Francis’ College Broadway, Letchworth Garden City, Hertfordshire SG6 3PJ T: 01462 670511 www.st-francis.herts.sch.uk Open Days: 9 March, 21 & 27 April. nnnnnnn8

Sunningdale School Sunningdale, Berkshire, SL5 9PY T: 01344 620159 www.sunningdaleschool.co.uk Open Days: Contact the school nnn9 Swanbourne House Swanbourne, Milton Keynes, Bucks MK17 0HZ T: 01296 720264 www.swanbourne.org Open Days: 10 March. nnnL

St Christopher School Barrington Rd, Letchworth Garden City, Herts SG6 3JZ T: 01462 650850 www.stchris.co.uk Open Days: 28 April. nnnnnnL St Edmund’s College and Preparatory School Old Hall Green, Ware, Herts SG11 1DS T: 01920 824247 www.stedmundscollege.org Open Days: 20 April, 27 April nnnnnL

GIRLS BOYS MIXED MIXED SIXTH FORM SpLD

St George’s Ascot Wells Lane, Ascot, Berkshire SL5 7DZ T: 01344 629920 www.stgeorges-ascot.org.uk Open Days: 3 March. nnn8

Rupert House School 90–92 Bell Street, Henley on Thames, Oxfordshire RG9 2BN T: 01491 574263 www.ruperthouse.org Open Days: 12 May. nnnnL St Albans Abbey Gateway, St Albans, Herts AL3 4HB T: 01727 515182 www.st-albans.herts.sch.uk Open Days: 28 April nnn9

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224

Open Days: Contact the school.

Pangbourne College Pangbourne, Reading, Berkshire RG8 8LA T: 01189 767415 www.pangbourne.com Open Days: 28 April. nnnL Papplewick Windsor Road, Ascot, Berkshire SL5 7LH T: 01344 621488 www.papplewick.org.uk Open Days: 3 Feb. nnn9

BOARDING WEEKLY BOARDING FLEXIBOARDING BOARDING & DAY DAY

nnnnnnn8

Oxford High School, GDST Belbroughton Road, Oxford OX2 6XA T: 01865 559888 www.oxfordhigh.gdst.net Open Days: Contact the school. nnnnn8 218

n n n n n

Royal Masonic School Rickmansworth Park, Rickmansworth, Herts WD3 4HF T: 01923 773168 www.rmsforgirls.org.uk

The Oratory Preparatory School Goring Heath, South Oxfordshire RG8 7SF T: 0118 9844511 www.oratoryprep.co.uk Open Days: 24 Feb. nnnnnL The Oratory School Woodcote, Nr Reading, South Oxfordshire RG8 0PJ T: 01491 683522 www.oratory.co.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnnn9

NURSERY PRE PREP PREP SENIOR SIXTH FORM

Tudor Hall Wykham Park, Banbury, Oxfordshire OX16 9UR T: 01295 756263 www.tudorhallschool.com Open Days: 12 May. nnn8 Winchester House School 44 High St, Brackley, Northants NN13 7AZ T: 01280 846497 www.winchester-house.org Open Days: 23 Feb, 3 March. nnnnnnL

224

York House Sarratt Road, Rickmansworth, Herts WD3 4LW T: 01923 772 395 www.york-house.com Open Days: 10 March & 19 May. nnnL

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COUNTRY SCHOOLS

n n n n n

South West 226

All Hallows Prep School Cranmore Hall, Shepton Mallet, Somerset, BA4 4SF T: 01749 881600 www.allhallowsschool.co.uk Open Days: 7 May nnnnnnL

227

Badminton School Westbury Rd, Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol BS9 3BA. T: 0117 905 5271 www.badmintonschool.co.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnnnnnnn8

227

229

Godolphin School Milford Hill, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP1 2RA T: 01722 430509 www.godolphin.org Open Days: Visit the website. nnnnnnnn8

229

Hanford School Child Okeford, Blandford, Dorset DT11 8HN T: 01258 860219 www.hanford.dorset.sch.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnnn8

228

Blundell’s School Tiverton, Devon EX16 4DN T: 01884 252543 www.blundells.org Open Days: Contact the school. nnnnnnnnL Bruton School for Girls (and Sunny Hill Prep) Sunny Hill, Bruton, Somerset BA10 0NT T: 01749 814400 www.brutonschool.co.uk Open Days: 2 March & 7 May. nnnnnn8

228

225

226

Bryanston School Blandford, Dorset DT11 0PX T: 01258 452411 www.bryanston.co.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnnL

Clayesmore School Iwerne Minster, Blandford, Dorset DT11 8LL T: 01747 812122/ 813155 (Prep) www.clayesmore.com Open Days: Contact the school. nnnnnnL

Dauntsey’s School West Lavington, Devizes,Wiltshire SN10 4HE T: 01380 814500 www.dauntseys.org Open Days: 12 May. nnnL Downside School Stratton on the Fosse, Bath, Somerset BA3 4RJ T: 01761 235330 www.downside.co.uk Open Days: 10 March & 19 May. nnnL Forres Sandle Manor School Fordingbridge, Hampshire SP6 1NS T: 01425 653181 www.fsmschool.com Open Days: 17 March. nnnnnnnnL

In partnership with

Listings Sept 17 1.indd 262

232

King Edward’s School Bath North Road, Bath BA2 6HU T: 01225 820399 www.kesbath.com Open Days: 8 March. nnnnnnL

232

Marlborough College Bath Rd, Marlborough, Wilts SN81PA T: 01672 892300 www.marlboroughcollege.org Open Days: Contact the school. nnL 230

230

Millfield Street, Somerset BA16 0YD T: 01458 444296 www.millfieldschool.com Open Days: 3 March & 5 May. nnnL Millfield Prep Glastonbury, Somerset BA6 8LD T: 01458 832446 www.millfieldprep.com Open Days: 3 March, 5 May. nnnnnnL

BOARDING WEEKLY BOARDING FLEXIBOARDING BOARDING & DAY DAY

Monkton School Monkton Combe,Bath BA2 7HG T: 01225 721133 www.monktoncombeschool.com Open Days: Senior 17 March & Prep 24 Feb. nnnnnnnnL

233

Sherborne Girls Bradford Rd, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3QN T: 01935 818224 www.sherborne.com Open Days: Group open mornings available, please call to find out more and book a place. nnn8 Sherborne Preparatory School Acreman St, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3NY T: 01935 810911 www.sherborneprep.org Open Days: Contact the school. nnnnnnL

Pinewood School Bourton, Shrivenham, Wilts SN6 8HZ T: 01793 782554 www.pinewoodschool.co.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnnnnnL

Sidcot School Oakridge Ln, Winscombe, Somerset BS25 1PD T: 01934 843102 www.sidcot.org.uk Open Days: 7 May. nnnnnnnnL

Port Regis Motcombe Park, Shaftesbury, Dorset SP7 9QA T: 01747 857800 www.portregis.com Open Days: 24 February. nnnnnnL

St Margaret’s Prep School, Calne Curzon Street, Calne, Wilts SN11 0DF T: 01249 857220 www.stmargaretsprep.org.uk Open Days: 15 March. nnnnL 234

Prior Park College Ralph Allen Drive, Bath BA2 5AH T: 01225 831000 www.priorparkcollege.com Open Days: 2 March, 4 May. nnnnL The Royal High School Bath, GDST Lansdown Rd, Bath BA1 5SZ T: 01225 313877 www.royalhighbath.gdst.net Open Days: Junior 26 April, Senior 7 March & 26 April. nnnnnnnn8 Ryde School Queen’s Road, Ryde, Isle of Wight PO33 3BE T: 01983 562229 www.rydeschool.org.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnnnL Sandroyd School Sandroyd, Rushmore, Tollard Royal, Sailsbury, Wilts SP5 5QD T: 01725 516264 www.sandroyd.org Open Days: Contact the school. nnnnnnL

GIRLS BOYS MIXED MIXED SIXTH FORM SpLD

Sherborne School Abbey Rd, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3AP T: 01935 810403 www.sherborne.org Open Days: Group open mornings available, please call to find out more and book a place. nnnn9

Queen’s College Taunton Trull Rd, Taunton, Somerset TA1 4QS T: 01823 272559 www.queenscollege.org.uk Open Days: 7 May. nnnL 231

8 9 L

233

Perrott Hill School North Perrott, Crewkerne, Somerset TA18 7SL T: 01460 72051 www.perrotthill.com Open Days: Contact the school. nnnnnnL

King’s College, Taunton South Rd, Taunton, Somerset TA1 3LA T: 01823 328204 www.kings–taunton.co.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnnnL

Knighton House School Durweston, Blandford, Dorset DT11 0PY T: 01258 452065 www.knightonhouse.co.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnnn8

Clifton College Guthrie Road, Clifton, Bristol BS8 3EZ T: 01173 157000 www.cliftoncollege.com Open Days: Contact the school. nnnnnnnnL 225

230

Hazlegrove Preparatory School Hazlegrove, Sparkford, Somerset BA22 7JA T: 01963 442606 www.hazlegrove.co.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnnnL

Kingsley School Bideford Northdown Rd, Bideford, Devon EX39 3LY T: 01237 426200 www.kingsleyschoolbideford. co.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnnnnnnnL

n n n n n

Milton Abbey School Blandford Forum, Dorset DT11 0BZ T: 01258 880484 www.miltonabbey.co.uk Open Days: 3 March & 19 May. nnnL

King’s Hall School Kingston Rd, Taunton, Somerset TA2 8AA T: 01823 285921 www.kingshalltaunton.co.uk Open Days: 27 April. nnnnL

Canford School Wimborne, Dorset BH21 3AD T: 01202 847207 www.canford.com Open Days: 21 April. nnnL

NURSERY PRE PREP PREP SENIOR SIXTH FORM

St Mary’s Calne Calne, Wilts SN11 0DF T: 01249 857206 www.stmaryscalne.org Open Days: 24 Feb & 28 April. nnn8 St Mary’s School, Shaftesbury Shaftesbury, Dorset SP7 9LP T: 01747 852416 www.stmarys.eu Open Days: 9 March & 4 May. nnnnn8

226

Talbot Heath Rothesay Rd, Bournemouth BH4 9NJ T: 01202 761881 www.talbotheath.org Open Days: Contact the school. nnnnnnnn8

235

Taunton School Staplegrove Rd, Taunton, Somerset TA2 6AD T: 01823 703703 www.tauntonschool.co.uk Open Days: 7 May. nnnnnnL

231 234

Warminster School Church St, Warminster, Wiltshire BA12 8PJ T: 01985 210160 www.warminsterschool.org.uk Open Days: 28 April. nnnnnnL Wells Cathedral School The Liberty, Wells, Somerset BA5 2ST T: 01749 834200 wells.cathedral.school Open Days: 3 March. nnnnnnnL

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COUNTRY SCHOOLS

Central 236

Abbotsholme School Rocester, Uttoxeter, Staffordshire ST14 5BS T: 01889 590217 www.abbotsholme.co.uk Open Days: 3 March. nnnnnnnL

248

Adcote School for Girls Little Ness, Shrewsbury Shropshire SY4 2JY T: 01939 261346 www.adcoteschool.org.uk Open Days: Contact the school nnnnnnn8

236

Abberley Hall School Worcester WR6 6DD T: 01299 896275 www.abberleyhall.co.uk Open Days: 24 Feb. nnnnnL

236

238

Beaudesert Park School Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire GL6 9AF T: 01453 832072 www.beaudesert.gloucs.sch.uk Open Day: 16 March. nnnnnnL

Eastern Davenport Lodge Nursery School 21 Davenport Road, Coventry CV5 6QA T: 02476 675051 davenportlodgeschool.co.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nL Foremarke Hall Repton Preparatory School, Milton, Derbyshire DE65 6EJ T: 01283 707102 www.foremarke.org.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnnnnL Headington School 26 London Road, Oxford, OX3 7PB T: 01865 759400 www.headington.org Open Days: 7 March (Prep) 8 March & 2 June (Senior). nnnnn8 238

Bilton Grange School Dunchurch, Rugby, Warwickshire CV22 6QU T: 01788 810217 www.biltongrange.co.uk Open Days: 3 March & 11 May. nnnnnnL

Bromsgrove School Worcester Road, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire B61 7DU T: 01527 579679 www.bromsgrove-school.co.uk Open Day: Contact the school nnnnnnL

Cheltenham Ladies’ College Bayshill Rd, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL50 3EP T: 01242 520691 www.cheltladiescollege.org Open Days: 17 March, 20 April, 21 May, 9 & 29 June. nnn8 Concord College Acton Burnell Hall, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY5 7PF T: 01694 731631 www.concordcollegeuk.com Open Days: Contact the school. nnnL Dean Close Shelburne Rd, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL51 6HE T: 01242 258044 www.deanclose.org.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnnnnnL

239

The Downs Malvern Brockhill Rd, Colwall, Worcestershire WR13 6EY T: 01684 544100 www.thedownsmalvern.org.uk Open Days: 7 May. nnnnnL

In partnership with

Listings Sept 17 1.indd 263

240

239

238

Oakham School Chapel Close, Oakham, Rutland LE15 6DT T: 01572 758758 www.oakham.rutland.sch.uk Open Days: Lower School 14 Feb & 19 May. Middle School 28 April, 9 June. nnnnL Oundle School Oundle, Peterborough PE8 4GH T: 01832 277125 www.oundleschool.org.uk Open Day: Contact the school. nnL Radley College Abingdon, Oxfordshire OX14 2HR T: 01235 543174 www.radley.org.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nn9

Shiplake College Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire RG9 4BW T: 0118 940 2455 www.shiplake.org.uk Open Days: 17 March. nnnn9

Tettenhall College Wood Rd, Tettenhall, Wolverhampton WV6 8QX T: 01902 751119 www.tettenhallcollege.co.uk Open Days: 7 March. nnnnnnL

Gretton School Manor Farm Rd, Girton, Cambridge, CB3 0RX T: 01223 277438 www.grettonschool.com Open Days: Contact the school. nnnnnnL 246

247

Orwell Park School Nacton, Ipswich, Suffolk IP10 0ER T: 01473 653224 www.orwellpark.co.uk Open Days: 30 Sept. nnnnnnL Perse Girls’ School & Stephen Perse Sixth Form College Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 8QF T: 01223 403800 www.stephenperse.com Open Days: Contact the school. nn8

Westonbirt School Tetbury, Gloucestershire GL8 8QG T: 01666 880333 www.westonbirt.org Open Days: 3 March. nnnnn8

Saint Felix School Halesworth Road, Reydon Southwold, Suffolk IP18 6SD T: 01502 722175 www.stfelix.co.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnnnnnnnL

Winchester House 44 High St, Brackley, Northants NN13 7AZ T: 01280 702483 www.winchester-house.org Open Days: 23 Feb & 3 March. nnnnnnL Wycliffe College Bath Rd, Stonehouse, Gloucestershire GL10 2JQ T: 01453 822432 www.wycliffe.co.uk Open Days: 3 March. nnnnnnnL

King’s School Ely Ely, Cambridgeshire, CB7 4EW T: 01353 660700 www.kingsely.org Open Days: Contact the school. nnnnnL The Leys Cambridge CB2 7AD T: 01223 508904 www.theleys.net Open Days: 24 Feb (Day) & 21 April (Boarding). nnL

Uppingham School Uppingham, Rutland LE15 9QE T: 01572 820611 www.uppingham.co.uk Open Days: 10 March & 28 April (13+), 12 May (16+) nnnL 240

Beeston Hall School West Runton, Cromer, Norfolk NR27 9NQ T: 01263 837324 www.beestonhall.co.uk Open Days: 3 March. nnL Gresham’s Cromer Rd, Holt, Norfolk NR25 6EA T: 01263 714500 www.greshams.com Open Days: 12 May (Prep) & 5 May (Senior). nnnnnnL

Summer Fields Mayfield Road, Oxford OX2 7EN T: 01865 459 204 www.summerfields.com Open Days: 28 April (pre-prep) & 12 May (prep). nn9

Malvern College College Road, Malvern, Worcestershire WR14 3DF T: 01684 581500 www.malverncollege.org.uk Open Days: 12 May & 16 June. nnL

Moreton Hall Weston Rhyn, Oswestry, Shropshire SY11 3EW T: 01691 773671 www.moretonhall.org Open Days: Prep 3 March. nnnnnnn8

Shrewsbury School The Schools, Shrewsbury SY3 7BA T: 01743 280500 www.shrewsbury.org.uk Open Days: 24 Feb, 12 May & 9 June. nnnnL

St Edward’s Oxford Woodstock Rd, Oxford, OX2 7NN T: 01865 319204 www.stedwardsoxford.org Open Days: 12 May. nnL

Malvern St James Girls’ School 15 Avenue Rd, Great Malvern, Worcestershire WR14 3BA T: 01684 584624 www.malvernstjames.co.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnnnnnn8 240

246

Spratton Hall Smith St, Spratton, Northampton NN6 8HP T: 01604 847292 www.sprattonhall.com Open Days: 11 May. nnL

Maidwell Hall Maidwell, Northampton,NN6 9JG T: 01604 686234 www.maidwellhall.co.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnL

Cheltenham College Bath Rd, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL53 7LD T: 01242 265600 www.cheltenhamcollege.org Open Day: Contact the school. nnnnnnL 237

243

Abbey College Homerton Gardens, Cambridge CB2 8EB T: 01223 578280 www.abbeycambridge.co.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnL

Repton School Repton, Derbyshire DE65 6FH T: 01283 559222 www.repton.org.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnnL Rugby School Rugby, Warwickshire CV22 5EH T: 01788 556274 www.rugbyschool.co.uk Open Days: 17 March. nnnL

Magdalen College School Oxford OX4 1DZ. T: 01865 242191 www.mcsoxford.org Open Days: Contact the school. nnn9

Bredon School Pull Court Bushley, Tewkesbury Gloucestershire, GL20 6AH T: 01684 293156 www.bredonschool.org Open Days: 6 Feb, 19 May & 20 June. nnnnnL 237

King’s High Warwick Smith St, Warwick CV34 4HJ T: 01926 494485 www.kingshighwarwick.co.uk Open Days: 6 July. nnn8

241

247

South Lee School Nowton Road, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk IP33 2BT T: 01284 754 654 www.stfelix.co.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnnnnnnnL

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COUNTRY SCHOOLS

Scotland, Wales & Ireland

Northern Abbey College 5-7 Cheapside, Off King Street, Manchester M2 4WG T: 0161 817 2700 www.abbeymanchester.co.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnL

244

Queen Mary’s School Baldersby Park, Topcliffe, Thirsk, N. Yorks YO7 3BZ T: 01845 575000 www.queenmarys.org Open Days: Contact the school. nnnnnnn8

Ampleforth College York YO62 4ER T: 01439 766863 www.ampleforth.org.uk/college Open Days: 28 April. nnnL 244

Aysgarth School Newton-le-Willows, Bedale, N.Yorks DL8 1TF T: 01677 450240 www.aysgarthschool.com Open Days: Visitors welcome at all times, no formal open days. nnnn9

242

245

The Manchester Grammar School Old Hall Lane, Manchester, Greater Manchester M13 0XT T: 0161 224 7201 www.mgs.org Open Days: 10 May. nn9 The Mount School Dalton Terrace, York YO24 4DD T: 01904 667500 www.mountschoolyork.co.uk Open Days: 9 March. nnnnnnL Mowden Hall School Newton, Stocksfield, Northumberland NE43 7TP T: 01661 842147 www.mowdenhall.co.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnnnL 244

Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate Thorpe Underwood Estate, York YO26 9SS T: 01423 333300 www.qe.org Open Days: Contact the school. nnnnnL

In partnership with

Listings Sept 17 1.indd 264

Rossall School Fleetwood, Lancashire, FY7 8JW T: 01253 774201 www.rossall.org.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnnnnnL S. Anselm’s Bakewell, Derbyshire DE45 1DP T: 01629 812734 www.sanselms.co.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnnnnL

Harrogate Ladies’ College Clarence Drive, Harrogate HG1 2QG T: 01423 537045 www.hlc.org.uk Open Days: 2 March. nnnnnnnn8 Manchester High School For Girls Grangethorpe Rd, Manchester M14 6HS T: 0161 2240447 www.manchesterhigh.co.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnnn8

Queen Margaret’s School Escrick Park, York YO19 6EU T: 01904 727600 www.queenmargarets.com Open Days: 3 March & 28 April. nnn8

Sedbergh School Sedbergh, Cumbria LA10 5HG T: 01539 620535 www.sedberghschool.org Open Days: 21 April. nnnnnL St Peter’s School, York Clifton, York, YO30 6AB T: 01904 527300 www.stpetersyork.org.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnnnnL Stonyhurst College Clitheroe, Lancashire BB7 9PZ T: 01254 827073 www.stonyhurst.ac.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnnL Windermere School Patterdale Rd, Windermere, The Lake District LA23 1NW. T: 01539 46164 www.windermereschool.co.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnnnnnL

SCOTLAND 251

252

Fettes College Carrington Road, Edinburgh EH4 1QX T: 0131 311 6744 www.fettes.com Open Days: Visits available all year round. nnnL Gordonstoun Elgin, Moray IV30 5RF T: 01343 837829 www.gordonstoun.org.uk Open Days: Visits available all year round. nnnnnnL

250

Myddelton College Peakes Ln, Denbigh, North Wales LL16 3EN T: 01745 472201 www.myddeltoncollege.com Open Days: Contact the school. nnnL

IRELAND 248

Kilgraston School Bridge of Earn, Perthshire PH2 9BQ T: 01738 812257 www.kilgraston.com Open Days: 16 March & 27 April. nnnnnn8

Alexandra College Milltown Road, Dublin 6 T: (+353) 1497 7571 www.alexandracollege.eu Open Days: Contact the school nnnnnn8

249

Lathallan School Brotherton Castle, Johnshaven,

By Montrose DD10 0HN T: 01561 362220 www.lathallan.org.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnnnnnnL

Campbell College Belmont Road, Belfast BT4 2ND T: 028 90763076 www.campbellcollege.co.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnnnL

249 250

Clongowes Wood College Clane, Co Kildare W91 DN40 T: +353(0)45 838258 www.clongowes.net Open Days: 12 May. nnn9

48

Glenstal Abbey School Murroe, Co. Limerick T: (+353) 6162 1010 www.glenstal.com Open Days: Contact the school nnnnn9

251 253

The King’s Hospital Lucan Road Old, Brooklawn, Dublin 20 T: (+353) 1643 6500 www.kingshospital.ie Open Day: 27 April nnnnnnnnL

47 253

Rathdown School Upper Glenageary Road, Glenageary, Co. Dublin T: (+353) 1285 3133 www.rathdownschool.ie Open Days: Contact the school nnnnnnnn8

Loretto School Linkfield Rd, Musselburgh, East Lothian EH21 7RE T: 0131 653 4455 www.loretto.com Open Days: Junior 2 March, Senior 24 Feb. nnnnnnL Merchiston Castle School Colinton Road, Edinburgh EH13 0PU T: 0131 312 2201 www.merchiston.co.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnnnn9 St George’s School for Girls Garscube Terrace, Edinburgh EH12 6BG T: 0131 3118000 www.stge.org.uk Open Days: 17 March. nnnnnn8 Strathallan School Forgandenny, Perthshire PH2 9EG T: 01738 815003 www.strathallan.co.uk Open Days: Contact the school. nnnnL

Rockport School Craigavad, Holywood BT18 0DD T: 028 9042 8372 www.rockportschool.com Open Days: Contact the school. nnnnnnnL

WALES Christ College Brecon Brecon, Powys LD3 8AF T: 01874 615440 www.christcollegebrecon.com Open Days: 10 March. nnnnnnL Haberdashers’ Agincourt School Dixton Lane, Monmouth NP25 3SY T: 01600 713970 www.agincourtschool.org Open Days: Contact the school. nnL

44

St. Columba’s College Whitechurch, Dublin 16, Ireland T: +353 1 490 6791 www.stcolumbas.ie Open Days: 15 June. nnnL

Haberdashers’ Monmouth Schools Hereford Road, Monmouth NP25 5XT T: 01600 711100 www.habs-monmouth.org Open Days: Contact the school. nnnnnn8

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24/01/2018 16:50

Elizabether Gage.indd 1

29/01/2018 16:48

Hurtwood House Feb 18.indd 1

29/01/2018 16:49