AUTUMN/WINTER 2021
SMART THINKING
Heads challenging the status quo PROF. SIMON BARON COHEN on autism BRAIN FOOD FOR HAPPY KIDS
STOP PRESS Winchester educating girls
FOCUS: TODAY’S FRONTLINE
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“WE WANT OUR CHILDREN TO STAY CHILDREN FOR LONGER.”
reptonprep.org.uk
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P R E P A t hou s a nd ye a r s of le a r n i ng; you r l i m it le s s f ut u r e. A world - cla s s b oa rd i ng a nd d ay s cho ol i n t he he a r t of t he M id la nd s f r om 3 -13.
OPEN DAY: SATURDAY 2 OCTOBER 2021
Call 01283 559222 or email admissions@repton.org.uk to book a place on our Open Day.
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30 years g n i t a lebr e C
A FAMILY OF FOUR SCHOOLS GSG.indd 2
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4-11 year olds | West London
4-11 year olds | Kew, Richmond
11-18 year olds | West London
11-18 year olds | North West London
Follow us on Twitter @GardenerSchools www.gardenerschools.com
The Gardener Schools Group is committed to providing independent co-education of the highest quality that meets each individual child’s needs.
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EXCELLENT ISI inspection
Your daughter is unique and so is Heathfield. As well as providing an excellent academic education and top-class pastoral care, we guide your daughter to understand her personal strengths, live her ambitions, and develop as the best possible version of herself. Our education goes far beyond exam results – individual talent and spirit is celebrated throughout the school. Live life like a Heathfield girl.
OPEN MORNINGS Saturday 16 October 9.45am to 12 noon To book please email admissions@heathfieldschool.net
Day, Weekly and Full Boarding for Girls 11-18
heathfieldschool.net | +44 (0) 1344 898343
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Tailored
not uniform
When it comes to a good education, one size does not necessarily fit all. At MPW, one of the UK’s best known names in fifth and sixth-form education, we offer a distinctive alternative to traditional schools. A levels and GCSEs in over 45 subjects Retakes, revision courses and Year 12 transfers Personal tutors providing individual academic and pastoral support Oxbridge-style tutorial groups with nine students or fewer Excellent results and progression to top tier universities Best in class inspection reports from the ISI and Ofsted
Discover MPW for yourself Visit www.mpw.ac.uk or call us to book your visit.
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London
Birmingham
Cambridge
020 7835 1355
0121 454 9637
01223 350 158
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Pupils and sixth-form students say that Mander Portman Woodward (MPW) is ‘amazing’ and a great place to study. MPW Cambridge Ofsted Report No vember 2019
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PLAN YOUR CHILD’S FUTURE
Saturday 13 November Sunday 14 November Battersea Evolution
For VIP tickets visit SchoolsShow.co.uk/VIP promo code SchoolHouse2021
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The world’s largest school open day
In partnership with
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Senior School Open Morning Saturday 18 September 2021 9.30am to noon Boys and girls 13 to 18 (Entry at 13 and 16) HMC – Boarding and day Upper Dicker East Sussex BN27 3QH T 01323 843252 admissions@bedes.org
Prep, Pre-Prep and Nursery School Open Morning Saturday 2 October 2021 9.30am to noon Boys and girls 3 months to 13 years IAPS – Boarding and day Duke’s Drive, Eastbourne East Sussex BN20 7XL T 01323 734222 prep.admissions@bedes.org
To register or to arrange a personal visit, go to bedes.org
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Lancing College Senior School & Sixth Form
Be inspired Be brilliant Be you 13-18 years, co-educational boarding and day school
Registration for Year 9 entry in 2024 now open
Registered Charity No. 1076483
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CONTENTS AUTUMN WINTER 2021
110
UNIVERSITY
50 102
50
56
62
NEWS 23 25 26
HEADS OF SCHOOL Shrewsbury School, Shropshire EDUCATION Academic updates PREP AND SENIOR SCHOOLS Pupils excelling, heads moving and schools expanding
AND VIEWS 35
37 39
41
LEADER COLUMN Environmentalist Julia Hailes believes schools can do more to tackle eco-anxiety SENIOR HEAD Mark Mortimer of Bryanston on Everyone’s Invited PREP HEAD Simon Gould of Hurlingham Prep ponders the future of prep schools OPINION Children must be hands-on in the classroom, says Catherine Milner
106
EDUCATION 44
66
72
CO-ED VS. SINGLE SEX SCHOOLS Eleanor Doughty asks school heads what they think about this age-old debate PREPPED AND READY TO GO Melanie Cable-Alexander investigates the tools used to prepare pupils for senior school FROM CLUB TO CAREER Emma Reed charts the course of extracurricular activity to employment AN IMMERSIVE CULTURE Learning languages is important for more than one reason, finds Annabel Heseltine ENGINES OF CHANGE Annabel Heseltine reviews the gift of independence to private schools FOCUS: A CALL TO ARMS Training medics, engineers and cyber geeks to be the frontline army
REGULARS 84
87 89 91 92 99
102 104
EDITOR TALKS TO... Annabel Heseltine discusses the inventive powers of autistic people with Professor Sir Simon Baron-Cohen COVER STORY Judith FremontBarnes reviews the education system INSIDE STORY Confessions of a drama teacher TEEN SPIRIT Georgia Hall opens up about anorexia BEST OF… Intrepid explorers ON THE SOFA Victoria Lambert learns more about wellbeing from author Frances Edmonds
110
116
NEWS Key information for students A GOOD SEND OFF Milly Whitehead from The Leap gives advice to gappies’ parents CHAMPIONING THE IB Is the A-level going out of style? asks Max Davidson IF THE SHOE FITS It’s all about finding the right university course says Eleanor Doughty HAS UNIVERSITY HAD ITS DAY? Emma Reed considers the options
SCHOOL’S OUT
125 127 128 130 134
139
WHAT’S ON Ideas for the holidays LIBRARY Books and apps THE GREEN DREAM Anna Tyzack on the post-pandemic urban exoduses FOOD FOR THOUGHT Rachel Kelly and Tina Lond-Caulk on gut health HARNESSING PEACOCKS Finding balance in a Balinese hut in East Sussex ALUMNUS Anna Trzebinksi remembers Fettes School
DIRECTORY 141 189 249
LONDON SCHOOLS COUNTRY SCHOOLS SCHOOLS’ LISTINGS
ON THE COVER: Milton Abbey, Dorset. Photography by Hugo Burnand
Autumn/Winter 2021 | SCHOOLHOUSEMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 13
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Co-educational boarding and day 3–13 Years
C O N T R I B U TO R S JULIA HAILES
Julia Hailes MBE is an environmental campaigner and sustainability consultant advising multinational companies. She co-founded, with John Elkington, SustainAbility, a think tank advising companies and NGOs on eco-labelling, waste, recycling, packaging, detergents, energy, climate change and deforestation. They co-wrote the Green Consumer Guide which sold a million copies.
PROFESSOR HUGH MONTGOMERY
The Professor of Intensive Care at UCL is an IC consultant at North London’s Whittington hospital. The Director of the Centre for Human Health and Performance has written 500 academic papers, three books, discovered a fitness gene while climbing the Himalayas and jumped naked from a plane for charity. He is investigating the impact of climate change on health.
Cheam School Headley, Newbury Berkshire, RG19 8LD +44 (0)1635 268242 www.cheamschool.com @cheamschool
Former Arts Correspondent of the Sunday Telegraph, Catherine Milner is curatorial director of Messums art galleries, recently launching an art school near its main gallery in Tisbury, Wilts. The specialist in Contemporary British art first wrote about the 1990’s Young British Artist group. Now she focusses on contemporary Middle Eastern art, travels extensively and contributes to The Economist, the FT and Apollo.
PHOTOS: CLAIRE MCNAMEE
CATHERINE MILNER
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‘Leading the way in educational initiatives is instinctive for this
DYNAMIC Oxford school.’ tatler schools guide
‘They will tell you it is down to earth – we say it’s FLYING HIGH’ the good schools guide
School coach from London via Beaconsfield every Sunday evening weekly & full boarding | day | a level & ib | co-educational | 13 – 18
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Introducing ou new creative
r
arts and spor
ts
C O N T R I B U TO R S
scholarships
Welcome to Habs A world-class education, closer than you think...
PROFESSOR PETER CHILDS
The founder and professorial lead of the Dyson School of Design Engineering at Imperial College, London has held chairs including BladeBUG Ltd and Q-Bot Ltd, and been director of the Rolls-Royce University Technology Centre for AeroThermal Systems, as well as InQbate. He has contributed to over 200 papers, and books on engineering design, temperature and rotating flow.
RACHEL KELLY
Rural 100-acre campus Largest school coach network in the UK Co-located with Girls’ School 4+, 5+, 7+, 11+, 13+ and 16+ applications now open for September 2022 entry
As well as being a writer, public speaker and mental health advocate, Rachel Kelly is an ambassador for Rethink Mental Illness, Head Talks, SANE and The Counselling Foundation and is a member of the Speakers Collective, committed to ending stigma. Her memoir Black Rainbow is about her depression and three subsequent books are about her recovery – Walking to Sunshine, The Happy Kitchen and Singing in the Rain.
MARK MORTIMER
Book an Open Event now:
www.habsboys.org.uk The Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys’ School Butterfly Lane, Elstree, Hertfordshire WD6 3AF
A history graduate from the University of London, Mark Mortimer joined the army before teaching at Giggleswick School, Hampton School and St John’s School, Leatherhead, then becoming headmaster at Warminster School. A keen sportsman, he has twice rowed the Atlantic and run the Marathon des Sables across the Sahara. Interests include leadership development, cooking and the arts.
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“Exciting times lie ahead for the brilliant Wellington College” — Tatler
Coeducational | Ages 13 -18 | Boarding & Day Wellington College nurtures a unifying culture of ambition and aspiration, creating an atmosphere which encourages each pupil to believe that anything is possible Find out more at wellingtoncollege.org.uk
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Prep school for boys and girls aged 2½–11
schoolhousemagazine.co.uk EDITOR Annabel Heseltine EDITORIAL & PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Ruby Featherstone CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Max Davidson, Eleanor Doughty, Charlotte Fairbairn, Sally Jones, Victoria Lambert, Emma Love, Anna Tyzack CREATIVE & PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Parm Bhamra PRODUCTION DESIGNER Samuel Thomas ONLINE EDITOR Rebecca Cox ONLINE WRITER Ellie Smith ONLINE ASSISTANT Daniella Saunders ONLINE INTERN Carina Murphy ONLINE INTERN Charlie Colville EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Lucy Cleland MANAGING EDITOR Amy Wakeham FEATURES ASSISTANT Sofia Tindall
PUBLISHER Camilla van Praagh ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE Melissa Campbell ADVERTISING SALES DIRECTOR Ellie Rix SENIOR ACCOUNT MANAGER Pandora Lewis SALES & ADMIN ASSISTANT Bea Cerullo
Discover the joys of learning at Redcliffe, now part of the Godolphin and Latymer family
DIGITAL MANAGER Adam Dean TECHNICAL MANAGER Hannah Johnson TECHNICAL DIRECTOR Mark Pearson FINANCE CONTROLLER Lauren Hartley PROPERTY & MARKETING ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR Gemma Cowley FINANCE DIRECTOR Jill Newey GROUP PUBLISHING DIRECTOR Tia Graham MANAGING DIRECTOR Jeremy Isaac EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES victorialambert@schoolhousemagazine.co.uk ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES camilla@schoolhousemagazine.co.uk
SCHOOL HOUSE is a biannual magazine published with Country & Town House magazine and distributed to AB homes in Barnes, Battersea, Bayswater, Belgravia, Brook Green, Chelsea, Chiswick, Clapham, Coombe, Fulham, Hampstead, Highgate, Holland Park, Kensington, Knightsbridge, Marylebone, Mayfair, Notting Hill, Pimlico, Putney, Richmond, South Kensington, St John’s Wood, Wandsworth and Wimbledon. It is also on sale at selected WHSmith, Sainsbury’s, M&S, and Waitrose stores and independent newsagents nationwide. School House is published by Country & Town House Ltd, Studio 2, Chelsea Gate Studios, 115 Harwood Road, London SW6 4QL (tel: 020 7384 9011). Registered number 576850 England and Wales. Printed in the UK by William Gibbons and Sons Ltd, West Midlands. Paper supplied by Gerald Judd. Distribution by Letterbox.
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Copyright © 2021 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.
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WHAT TO DO WITH SCHOOL HOUSE WHEN YOU’VE FINISHED READING IT... Ideally, we’d love you to pass it on to a friend or a community place which might enjoy it (doctor or dentist surgery, community centre etc), but you can also rest assured that your issue can be recycled. The magazine (including cover) can be disposed of in your paper waste recycling bin. The outer plastic wrapping is made entirely from 100 per cent compostable material sourced from potato starch. It can be disposed of in a compost heap, your garden waste bin or your food waste bin (why not use it as a liner?). Please do not put it in your recycling.
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“ONE WORD: EXCEPTIONAL”
“MOST FORWARD THINKING SCHOOL”
“THERE’S A RICH VEIN OF KINDNESS”
TATLER
THE WEEK
TATLER
BRIGHTON COLLEGE
WISH YOU WERE HERE United Kingdom School of the Decade THE SUNDAY TIMES
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Editor’s LETTER One of the proudest moments during my editorship was hearing that a headmaster, when speaking to an audience of parents, had said that, ‘there is only one magazine worth reading about independent school education and that is School House because it has kept its integrity’. After nine fascinating years, during which I have had the privilege and fortune to meet so many talented, bright and inspiring men and women, I have taken the difficult decision to move on from School House to write a book among other endeavours. But I know that in handing over the editorship to my friend and colleague, Victoria Lambert, that same integrity will continue to be protected. Under her care, the magazine will rise to new heights, tackling contemporary issues and concerns held by parents but also challenging the status quo and showcasing the thoughts and opinions of the leading educationalists and thinkers of our time. In my time as editor, School House has gone from strength to strength, not just growing its audience but offering our services in contract publishing to banks like Coutts and launching a third title Scholarships & Bursaries, promoting the work done by the independent sector to merit its charitable status and support talented pupils who might not otherwise be able to access a world class education. And so it is that in this issue we review the value of independence when offering the best education, be it blended learning, supreme pastoral care or tabling new policy provoked by independent research (p66). In conversation with Professor Sir Simon Baron-Cohen, I discuss the abilities of current policy to address the needs of the growing minority for whom a more specialist education might be more suited (p84). We question the value of A-levels and ask whether university is the only road to tread (p106, p110). In our leader column, environmental campaigner Julia Hailes addresses pupils’ eco-anxiety (p35). Languages are back on the curriculum agenda (p62) and perhaps, most importantly, our incoming editor considers the task of schools to educate the men and women who will protect us from future world threats, be it in medicine, science, engineering or technology in a brave new post-pandemic world (p72). All that remains is to give thanks to the magazine’s loyal team for their indefatigable and talented work and to you, our parents, for continuing to read and enjoy School House.
The News, Brentwood School’s homegrown band, Essex
England cricketer Sophia, from Mill Hill School, London
Rosie Stancer en route to the North Pole
20 | SCHOOLHOUSEMAGAZINE.CO.UK | Autumn/Winter 2021
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Day and boarding for boys and girls 13-18
1
MOR N ING
is all we think you will need to be inspired.
Join us at one of our open mornings
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SCHOOL HOUSE AUTUMN/ WINTER 2021
Imogen Jones and Finn Sansom, Shrewsbury School, Shropshire Imogen Jones and Finn Sansom, both 18, are head girl and boy of Shrewsbury School, Shropshire, a co-educational day and boarding independent senior school with 800 pupils. Imogen is a day pupil taking A-levels in Philosophy and Theology, French and Spanish and hails from a long line of Salopians. She wants to study languages at Durham, to spend her language year out working as a journalist in France and Latin America and dreams of working for the UN or of being a human rights lawyer in South America. When not studying she is to be found on the tennis court, acting or volunteering. She works at a food bank and helps younger pupils to read at the local primary school. Finn, who is also reading Philosophy and Theology, as well as Biology and Chemistry, is captain of the 1st XI football team. He plans to spend his gap year playing football at non-league level to garner the experience to win a football scholarship to Stanford or UCLA in America where he can balance professional standard football with an amazing education. The youngest of four brothers, who are all Old Salopians who went onto Bristol, Finn is breaking the mould in more ways than one. He is passionate about politics, loves debating and is, by his own admission, the first ever socialist Salopian headboy. We are sure that Old Salopian, Charles Darwin standing high on his pedestal in the background would approve.
Portrait by Hugo Burnand Autumn/Winter 2021 | SCHOOLHOUSEMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 23
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NEWS
WHAT’S UP Academic news and some vital statistics
SHAKING OUT SHAKESPEARE
The BBC has opened an extensive Shakespeare archive in partnership with the Educational Recording Agency, providing hundreds of hours of free radio and TV resources to students of all ages at schools, colleges and universities.
WATCH OUT
The International Watch Foundation, now in its 25th year, has launched a campaign warning teenage girls and their parents about the dangers of online sexual grooming. New figures show 11-13 year-old girls are more at risk than ever before.
POLITICAL LITERACY
Many students are leaving school with a lack of know-how on political issues. The All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) is calling for politics to be added to the national curriculum to ensure future generations are clued up on political movements, parties and contentious issues.
PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES; UNSPLASH; DEBRA HURFORD BROWN
INCLUSION IN FILM
Fourteen students have been appointed to the first British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) Youth Panel. To improve representation, the board includes members of all four UK nations, the LGBTQIA+ community and neurodivergent individuals and will discuss discrimination onscreen; mental health representation in films and TV; social media and the film industry.
DESIGN FIENDS
LIFE-CHANGING LIBRARIES
One in eight primary schools in England don’t have library space – Waterstones Children’s Laureate Cressida Cowell has launched the initiative to put primary school libraries at the heart of pandemic recovery, calling for £100m annual investment. Not to be outdone, Morrisons has launched book donation and exchange stations to help boost literacy levels in underprivileged children. The National Literacy Trust reported recently that one in 11 disadvantaged children don’t own a single book.
Design Ventura, a design and enterprise competition for school students aged 13-16, asked schools to design a new product to improve everyday life which would then sell in the Design Museum shop for under £10. The competition has announced its winner: Heckmondwike Grammar School. Of the 290 participating schools, Guildford High School and Haberdasher’s Askes’ School for Girls were shortlisted.
TAKING ON THE CITY
Embley’s Stock Market Investment Club is the UK’s first group of school children to trade on the London Stock Exchange, supported by stockbroker Charles Stanley. The club’s profits will form a fund for bursaries to Embley School.
CROSSGENERATIONAL CONNECTIONS
Lockdown has highlighted the plight of lonely people of all ages but one girl’s idea has bought solace to many elderly living in care homes. Violet Irwin, 12 and her mother Alice (a niece of HRH, The Duchess of Cornwall who was awarded the first Points of Life for her work) launched the instagram account @MyDearNewFriend. Supported by the National Literacy Club more than 2,400 children have now written letters to people living in care homes. Similarly, Life Stories is a project to connect teens with older community members, creating mixed age friendships, combatting loneliness and publishing their engaging stories in a book.
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PREP SCHOOLS
Awards, heroic apps and sporting changes
Bede’s Prep school students proud of their giant geoglyph in Eastbourne, Sussex
Darcey and Valido’s Starlight in action Food provenance at the forefront of education today
HOME SPUN CREATIVITY Bede’s Prep School, Sussex, collaborated with the Towner Gallery to create a giant hairpin geoglyph in chalk on the edge of Beachy Head in support of the artist Mariana Castillo Deball and her ‘Walking Through the Town’ project in Eastbourne. Young chefs at Beech Hall School in Cheshire showcased an exceptional standard of cookery skills, creating tasty nutritious breakfasts and delicious two-course meals as part of their formal Food Technology assessments.
HORSING AROUND
Eleven-year-old Darcey Blaze Marcus, a pupil at Cranleigh Prep in Surrey, is the youngest rider on the Great Britain dressage team for the Children on Horses section of the International Dressage Event at Wellington Riding, Hampshire.
AWARD-WINNING PUPILS
Kasper and the Heartbreak Productions Crew
Kasper, an Arnold Lodge School pupil in Warwickshire, won a national competition to have his modern twist on the fairy tale Cinderella performed by Heartbreak Productions as part of the Wonders with Grimm tour. A team of five Year 8 pupils from Bishop’s Stortford College Prep School, Hertfordshire, have made it through to the semi-finals of the 2020/2021 AWS (Amazon Web Services) GetIT competition for their design of an app to support young people with food allergies.
Budding young gardeners at Cameron Vale School, London, grew their very own vegetables at home, winning accolades for the ‘Best Vegetable Specimen’ or ‘Most Unique Vegetable’. David Wiesner’s picture book Tuesday inspired a whole school project at Chandlings School in Oxfordshire, embracing all manner of frogs: from creative writing to pond-dipping and learning about amphibian life cycles in science and creating ceramic frogs and tadpoles in art. Frog statues popped up all over the school to the delight of the children.
Froggie inpsiration for Chandlings School, Oxford
CHILD PRODIGY
PHOTOS: UNSPLASH
Soejin Park, a pupil at Blackheath High in London, has passed her physics GCSE at the astounding age of nine. She hopes to be the youngest person ever to attend the University of Cambridge. 26 | SCHOOLHOUSEMAGAZINE.CO.UK | Autumn/Winter 2021
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NEWS Flying off down the slopes
Breaktime at Eaton Square Prep School
HIGH-FLYING SCHOOLS Impressively for a London school, Eaton Square Prep School has achieved Bronze Level Eco-School status. A pupil-led Eco Committee embraced popular yearround initiatives including a flourishing Gardening Club, bird watching and creative upcycling projects. Coram Shakespeare Schools Foundation has named Highfield & Brookham Schools, Hampshire, a Silver Shakespeare School for their commitment to the performing arts. The schools have taken part in the foundation’s annual festival G Live for the last five years, even building an outdoor stage last year to ensure that their performance of Macbeth could go ahead.
NATIONAL SUCCESSES
Old Belmontian and Old Millhillian Sophia Dunkley has won a full-time England Cricket Contract and has since played for Southeast Stars and England. Meanwhile, in Essex, two young snow skiers, 11 and eight-year-old siblings, at Brentwood School in Essex have made history as the first pupils not only to compete in the National Schools Race League Finals but to also finish in the top 10. And girls from Maltman’s Green in Buckinghamshire excelled at the virtual ISGA Gymnastics Nationals with gold medals in all the team events and also individually in the U9s, U10s and U11s.
Westbourne House School, West Sussex, is the first school in Sussex to have been awarded the prestigious High-Performance Learning (HPL) World Class School Award, which recognises the very best schools across the globe and is founded on a whole school belief that every child can succeed if given the right opportunities, encouragement, self-motivation and practice.
RUNNING WILD
The Carnegie Centre of Excellence for Mental Health in Schools has awarded ‘Silver Status’ to the York House School, Hertfordshire, for outstanding commitment and work around mental health in school.
Medal-laden Naomi
Eleven-year-old Naomi, from Truro Prep School, Cornwall, ran the equivalent of a transatlantic race, the distance between Cambridge, UK and Cambridge, USA alongside a 29-strong adult team from the ‘Histon Hobblers’ running club, raising £2,802 for Cancer Research.
IN MEMORY OF CAPTAIN TOM Inspired by the late Captain Sir Tom Moore, pupils at Dean Park Day Nursery in Bournemouth walked 100 laps of the playing field to raise funds for the Round Table Children’s Wish charity which grants hand-crafted wishes to children with life threatening illnesses.
Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab, helping out in a science class at Parkside School
PHOTOS: UNSPLASH
STATELY VISITS
The Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab, was quizzed by pupils on political life, the environment, racism and cybercrime during his visit to Parkside School in Surrey. He said he was impressed by the pupils’ curiosity and the resilience shown by all at the school throughout the pandemic.
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NEW DEVELOPMENTS
CHANGING FACES Heads on the move
Badminton Junior School, Bristol, warmly welcomes its new head, Heidi Pedlar, who is moving from Bristol Grammar School where she is assistant head.
COOKING UP A STORM
St George’s Ascot’s state-of-the-art Cookery and Food Technology Room with seven cooking stations and a capacity for 14, has successfully fulfilled the growing demand for cookery programmes.
St George’s Ascot’s new cookery facility
SCHOOLS EXPANDING Bruern Abbey Prep School in Oxfordshire is expanding its provision with a new Senior School in Sept 2022. The Senior School will be an all-boys weekly boarding and day school in a gorgeous Georgian manor house in Chilton, Buckinghamshire. Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys School has opened a new age 4+ reception classes for the first time in school’s history to ensure a seamless start to life at Habs, and relieving pressure on families facing the disruption of moving their child at Year 1.
NEW SCHOOLS FOR LITTLE ONES
Paint Pots opened its latest Montessori nursery, The Grove, in the beautifully renovated Westbourne Grove Church in Notting Hill, London. Bilton Grange Prep School, Bilton Grange children Warwickshire, is opening the Little getting stuck into gardening Grange Nursery for six month to five year old pre-schoolers St Margaret’s Junior School in Hertfordshire has opened a new nursery school with a garden, resident hens, a woodland play area and brand-spankingnew classrooms. Moulsford Prep School, Oxfordshire, is opening a state-of-the-art building for St Margaret’s Junior a Pre-School, Reception and Years 1 and School, Hertfordshire 2 in September 2022 incorporating ecofriendly systems such as solar panels and air source heat pumps to provide underfloor heating, as well as natural ventilation. Belhaven Hill School, Scotland, is launching its new pre-prep in April 2022 to coincide with the school’s 99th anniversary and are looking forward to welcoming younger pupils into the fold. Dolphin School is opening a new nursery, the Noah’s Ark Nursery School, on its site in southwest London. As well as the outside playground they have a school garden where children can plant flowers and learn about nature.
Locker’s Park School, Hertfordshire, is delighted to announce the appointment of deputy head, Gavin Taylor as their new headmaster. Previously deputy head at Westminster Cathedral Choir School, Ed Graham takes up the headship of St Andrew’s Pangbourne, Berkshire, this term. Cambridge graduate and head of Millbank Academy, Catherine Jefferson will take over at Westminster Under School, London, following Mark O’Donnell’s retirement. Sherborne Prep, Somerset, welcomes former professional dressage competitor Natalie Bone as head to build on the legacy left by departing head, Nick Folland. The Dolphin School in southwest London has announced that music enthusiast Sam Gosden is moving from Kensington Park School to become their new head.
Jane Bond BSc MA (Ed) PGCE succeeds Marianne Austin at Kew College, Surrey, in September following her twoyear senior deputy headship at Rokeby Prep in Kingston.
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NEWS
Former Housemaster at Bryanston, Will Lockett, will be taking his place as Bryanston Knighton House’s headmaster following the schools’ merger. He returns to Dorset having been headmaster at Abberley Hall in Worcestershire for the past six years.
Beaudesert Park School, Gloucestershire is delighted to welcome Anna Packman as the head of pre-prep. With almost 20 years of preprep teaching under her belt, Mrs Packman and her family are returning to the UK after 11 years in China.
Cheam School, Berkshire, is welcoming William Phelps as its 22nd headmaster in April 2022. Mr Phelps is a well-established theology teacher and has been head of The Beacon School, Buckinghamshire, since 2015.
Nick Baker will take over at The Beacon School, Bucks, in July 2022. He is head of Wetherby Prep in London, and brings 20 years’ experience in education with him.
Following their merger with Lord Wandsworth College, Hampshire, St Neot’s School is welcoming Jonathon Slot as headmaster. He has been Deputy Head at Eagle House School, Berkshire, for the last six years.
Kate Bevan succeeds Silvana Silva, the retiring head of Notting Hill and Ealing High School, London as head of the Junior school with 17 years’ experience in primary education. She comes from her headship at Ibstock Place Junior.
Horris Hill School, Berkshire welcomes Dr Steve Bailey into the school as headmaster following an 11-year headship at Twyford School, Hampshire and interim headship of Westminster Under School.
BRAND-NEW BUILDINGS
Horris Hill in Hampshire has opened its new state-of-theart theatre, the David Brownlow Theatre. With 154 seats, the theatre is ready to accommodate school performances, assemblies and prize giving ceremonies. Bear Grylls, famous adventurer and TV presenter, opened Ludgrove School’s new Exploration Centre in Berkshire. Work on the £2.5m development ‘broke ground’ in the Summer of 2019 and, 14 months later, headmaster Mr Barber was handed the keys to the completed Exploration Centre. A Rotunda building at Hanford School, in Dorset, building has been built for Years 3 and 4, with minimal environmental impact. It offers 360° windows, cedar wood cladding and even the interactive whiteboard and wipe-clean tables help the girls reduce their paper use and carbon footprint.
Hanford School’s new Rotunda building
RELOCATION STATIONS Princes Gardens Prep has relocated into four Grade-II listed Victorian townhouses in South Kensington. International architects, Broadway Malyan completed the two-year project having battled with heritage restraints and structural obstacles.
TWO BECOME ONE
Edgeborough School, Surrey, will be joining Charterhouse School’s family to offer an exceptional independent, co-educational prep and senior school throughout a child’s school years. Having a laugh at Senior school, Lord Wandsworth College, and prep Edgeborough School, Surrey school, St Neot’s School in Hampshire, have entered a formal collaboration following many years of strong connections between the two. Royal Grammar School (RGS) and prep school Lanesborough in Guildford have merged. The two have been part of the same charitable trust for 42 years and will become RGS and the Royal Grammar Lord Wandsworth Preparatory School (RGS Prep). College, Hampshire Tonbridge School has merged with The New Beacon Prep School in Kent. The New Beacon will also become a part of the Skinners’ Company group of schools, a major not-forprofit organisation which supports seven other schools, including Tonbridge. Inspired Education Group – a leading global group of schools educating more than 50,000 students in 70 schools over five continents – has successfully completed its acquisition of Wey Education, the owner of InterHigh which delivers full interactive education STEM LAB to students wherever they are. St Mary’s School Forfar Education welcomes Horris Hill to their group Cambridge’s brandof schools. Developments such as a new 50-week nursery new STEM lab at its and redesign of the sports facilities are already planned. Junior School is funded by a gift from a former Prep school Knighton House in Dorset has merged student, Ivy – Yingting with the neighbouring senior school Bryanston to create Qian in gratitude of the support shown to her Bryanston Knighton House which will build on its strengths by the dedicated staff with extra resources, facilities and expertise. at St Mary’s. The lab will Airthrie School in Cheltenham has joined the Dean Close be named The Yingting Qian STEM Lab. Foundation educational group. The Foundation currently consists of four schools and a family of Little Trees Nurseries. Autumn/Winter 2021 | SCHOOLHOUSEMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 29
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SENIOR SCHOOLS
Green deals, heroic songs and sporting changes
Brentwood School’s four-piece band, The News
MUSIC HEADLINES
Beekeeping at ACS International School Cobham
Sherborne Girls and the Gryphon School in Dorset are rewilding their school grounds in partnership with Operation Future Hope who are building awareness of the urgency to foster biodiversity. More schools are signing up. Boarding students at ACS International School Cobham, Surrey, have been busy building, painting and maintaining two new beehives.
NEW COURSE GALORE
Sedbergh School, Cumbria, are working with Ivy House London to provide FTSE 100-style leadership training for their sixth formers to prepare them Working hard at Sedburgh School for future careers and build their aspirations to achieving top leadership positions. Ivy House London specialises in developing senior leaders in the UK’s top commercial companies. Taunton School, Somerset, has become the first institution in the UK to offer international students a bespoke alternative pathway to top universities around the world. The International Foundation Year course was launched at Taunton last year and so far has produced a 100 per cent pass rate.
MUSICAL MAESTROS
Talented young musicians from Duke of York Royal Military School, Kent, have won numerous Musician of the Year awards including Senior Musician of the Year Classical and Intermediate vocal winner.
QUALITY SCIENCE TONNES OF TECH Tonbridge School, Kent, hosted a virtual Science Conference which attracted a global gathering as students from Australia, Mexico and the USA joined those from various schools in the UK. Now in its sixth year, the conference brought together students to present their own work, discuss scientific topics and share their passion for discovery. Tonbridge have also carried out advanced scientific investigations with the use of a Scanning Electron Microscope loaned to them by Hitachi as part of a partnership with the Institute for Research in Schools. BLASTING OFF Three Year 12 students at Cheltenham Ladies College, Gloucestershire, will have five of their research experiments launched into space on NASA’s scientific balloon as part of the Cubes in Space global engineering design competition. The cubes will collect data for experiments and be analysed on their return. THE ITALIAN JOB A team of sixth-form physicists from South Hampstead High School in London has become the first all-girls team to win a national safecracking competition, at the Weizmann UK Physics tournament. Teams were tasked with designing a safe which could be cracked only by solving physics problems and riddles. A big win for women in STEM.
PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES; UNSPLASH
BIRDS AND BEES
Alumni of Somerset school, Millfield, Rosie Smith has released her debut single, Talking With Your Hands, which highlights domestic abuse after spikes in reports of abuse during the pandemic. She hopes her song will encourage people to discuss openly the dangers and horrors of domestic abuse. Meanwhile, a four-piece band from Brentwood School, Essex has released its EP named Headlines, labelling it ‘proper beach indie summer vibes’.
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NEWS
Mixed-gender sport at St Dunstan’s College
PICK ‘N’ MIX SPORTS At St Dunstan’s College, London, the sports department are shaking things up and moving towards a gender-neutral sporting model, enabling all pupils to have access to all sports at the College. The school is excited to become more inclusive and to reduce reinforcing gender and sex stereotypes, gender bias and prejudice. Eleanor Russell, a 14-year-old from Cobham Hall School in Kent, is the new Kent County Javelin champion, taking second place in the hammer events and scoring a further personal best in discus and shot put. The all-round field star threw 29.22m in the javelin. Dauntsey’s School, Wiltshire, has been celebrating 50 years of its Sailing Club. The club started in 1970 when pupils at the landlocked school were inspired by their maths teacher to take up sailing. The Jolie Brise has borne Dauntsey’s pupils across the Atlantic six times, the Bay of Biscay ten times and navigated up to 200 miles in the Arctic Circle.
Abbey College Manchester art students
PERFORMING & ARTS
Students from the University of the West of England (UWE), Bristol, inspired art students at Abbey College Manchester with a series of creative workshops covering topics like the process of character design and sketching. A virtual performance by Year 11 and 13 drama students at Farlington School in West Sussex was named ‘Best Senior Production’ in the prestigious ISA Drama Competition. Rugby School, Warwickshire, have reinvented their Edinburgh Fringe production by turning their stage show into a radio play. The weekly 10-minute episodes have been recorded at home on mobile phones using voice recording apps which were then stitched together with sounds effects and original music recorded by one of the cast.
DEEP IMPACT
Head boy at Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate, Yorkshire, has been awarded the ISA’s Lexden Prize for 2021. The prize celebrates the achievement of sixth formers in education in Independent Schools Association member schools; focusing both on academics and the wider impact the student has on the school community. Dauntsey’s Sailing club aboard the Jolie Brise
Cyrus Zarrebini, Head Boy at Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate
PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES; UNSPLASH
MASTER DEBATERS
A team from Wellington College in Berkshire has won the national debating championships at the English-Speaking Union’s School’s Mace. Four lowersixth pupils opposed the motion proposed by Bishop’s Stortford High School, Herts, ‘this House regrets the romanticisation of motherhood,’ questioning what motherhood has meant for women throughout history.
AWARDS AND WINNERS
Wellington College debating team
Bedford Boys’ School’s entrepreneur-inresidence has been recognised with the highest accolade for social action and humanitarian efforts, the Diana Award. Zubair Junjunia was honoured for tackling inequalities in education through his revision platform Znotes which provides pupils all over the world with free access to the highest quality of education.
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CHANGING FACES Heads on the move
OUTSTANDING CCF
Regiate Grammar’s CCF band in action
Reigate Grammar, in Surrey, celebrates its Combined Cadet Force (CCF) winning the Most Outstanding Service Personnel in Lockdown award in the Armed Forces Community Lockdown Awards which works in association with the Invictus games and Pathfinder International.
APPS FOR DISEASES Serena Jacob, a Year 9 Bedford Girls’ School student won the Junior Engineering 2021 prize at the Big Bang Competition. Her app, named DM2.Prevent, counteracts or even treats Type 2 diabetes by targeting reversible risk factors for disease and reducing the dangers associated with them. A Year 10 student at Lady Eleanor Holles School in London has designed an app to help enhance the quality of life of patients in the early stages of dementia. She developed her Personal Assistant for Dementia (PAD) after spending time with sufferers and their families in the summer of 2018.
CHARITY COOKBOOK BONANZA
Coffee and walnut cake from Bede’s Senior School cookbook
Pupils and staff at Bede’s Senior School, East Sussex, have collaborated with the School’s catering company Holroyd Howe, to publish a lockdown cookbook with delicious recipes and sold for £5 online to raise money for the children’s mental health charity, Young Minds. Twenty pupils from St Peter’s School, York, who qualified for the European final of the Young Enterprise Company of the Year Awards for their cookbook, Caring Through Cooking, have raised £1,200 for the Alzheimer’s Society. The cookbook encourages family cooking.
NEW DEVELOPMENTS SCHOOLS BLOSSOM
Marlborough College, Wilts, has unveiled a £3.5m Innovation Centre to inspire the next The Innovation Centre at Marlborough College generation and place the school in the vanguard of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education nationwide. Francis Holland School, Regent’s Park, London, has opened its new Classics Centre with the help of Dr Peter Jones MBE and Nickie Aitken MP. The headmaster, Charles Fillingham says, ‘believe it or not, Classics have almost never been so popular and relevant as they are now.’
GALS AND GUYS Winchester College, Hampshire, is expanding its sixth form to include day places for boys and girls from Sept 2022 and boarding places for girls from 2024. This new development comes after 640 years of being a successful all-boys’ school. Shiplake College in Oxfordshire is welcome girls into Year 7 from September 2023. Shiplake has had a co-educational sixth form since 1998. Sherborne School, in Dorset, and neighbouring Sherborne Girls’ are blending their CCF to create broader opportunities across both forces.
Joe Silvester has been appointed as head of Wetherby Senior School, London. Moving from Bancroft’s in north-east London, he believes that academic excellence and whole child development constitutes a ‘firstclass education’. Dr Adrian Rainbow joins Hampton Court House as its new headmaster this September. The former professional American football player and Lecturer of English at the University of Zurich has been Deputy Head Co-Curriculum at Sevenoaks School in Kent for four years.
Faith Hagerty is the new head of More House School, a Catholic independent school for girls aged 11-18 in London. The professional actor had a ‘lightbulb moment’ while directing a musical production with disadvantaged children realising that she wanted to work with young people.
Christopher Wolsey has taken the helm at Ibstock Place in southwest London, having been head of humanities, head of sixth form and then deputy head at the school. He has taken over from Anna Sylvester-Johnson, whose headship lasted an impressive 20 years.
Riverston School, London, has taken on David Ward as its headteacher. David has an MA in Educational Studies, is passionate about the creative arts and is a former professional rugby player with over 30 years experience in UK schooling.
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NEWS
Jody Wells replaces Julie Barrow as Head of Wells Cathedral Junior School, Somerset. Currently head of Forres Sandle Manor in Hampshire, Jody moves to the school with his wife, Lucy, and their two children. Julie Barrow retires after 30 years of service. Peter Middleton has joined Kensington Park School, London, as their headmaster. He is passionate for young people to fulfil their potential and aims to remove preconceived expectations as he sees this as a barrier to pupils’ vital development. Queen Anne’s, Caversham, Berkshire, is delighted to announce Elaine Purves as its next head in Jan 2022 following her current headship at St John’s International School in Belgium. She will build on the 15-year legacy of her predecessor, Julia Harrington. Rick Cross is the new Principal of Reddam House in Berkshire. A keen sportsman and reader of history and politics, the former deputy head of Bedales School in Hampshire, he moves to Reddam House with his wife and daughter.
Lindsey Hughes moved from Lady Eleanor Holles to take headship of Channing School, London, committed to girls’ education. ‘Happy girls learn best and I am delighted to uphold the school’s aim of girls enjoying success achieved without undue pressure.’ Institut auf dem Rosenberg has appointed Sir Anthony Seldon to be its Friend of Rosenberg which will see him working creatively with the school. He is a leading contemporary historian, educationalist, commentator and political author.
Myddleton College’s wonderful riding school
Roger Black opening Daunstsey’s School’s new running track
SPORTING INVESTMENT
Myddelton College, a co-educational day and boarding school in Denbigh, Wales, has completed a £30,000 renovation of its riding school. The original school was opened by Olympic Eventing gold medallist, Princess Anne. Olympian, Roger Black, unveiled the new all-weather running track at Dauntsey’s School in Wiltshire. Roger Black has represented Great Britain for 14 years in athletics. Brentwood School, Essex, has launched its brand-new Tennis Academy with the intention of developing world class players as excellent ambassadors for Brentwood School. Clayesmore School, Dorset, is binning Saturday school and introducing a new weekend activity programme. LEX will focus on trips, experiences and events designed to provide pupils with new memories and experiences. ‘It has become abundantly clear that young people need more than ever to be outdoors,’ says the head, Jo Thomson.
Cambridgeshire Leap Cardiff Sixth Form College will open a second campus for A-level students in the heart of Cambridge. Its new Sixth Form Centre will offer A-level students excellent quality teaching staff, many of whom also teach at or are alumni from Cambridge University, university course-specific lectures and work placements alongside their studies.
Fulham School’s new building
SIXTH FORM CENTRES
Fulham School, London has unveiled a new sixth form building named after the founder Jane Emmett as part of their 25th anniversary year. Bishops Stortford College, Herts, has opened a new Sixth Form Learning Centre providing a dedicated space for sixth form students. St Catherine’s Bramley, Surrey, has unveiled its new sixth form centre. ‘The 6’ provides a modern, vibrant boarding accommodation and a huge common room, where day girls and boarders can relax and recharge.
JET SET SCHOOLS
Polo Valley and Sotogrande International School have partnered to create the Sotogrande Polo Academy in Spain, which will transform 14 to 18-year-old amateur equestrian enthusiasts into seasoned polo players alongside a specially designed academic programme. A new world-class and innovative international school has opened in the Park of Nations in Lisbon, Portugal. The United Lisbon International School offers an English language academic programme up to Grade 12, aiming to provide an education ‘inspired by and fit for students of the 21st century.
Polo Valley players in action
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LEARN DIFFERENTLY
Direct your future Whatever your starting point, we will work with you to design an education fitting your unique interests and future goals. Our wide range of vocational and traditional courses, and our genuinely different approach to learning, set every learner on the path to success. Find out more at our Lower School Open Day on Saturday 2nd October or our Sixth Form Open Day on Saturday 6th November. admissions@miltonabbey.co.uk | 01258 881804 | www.miltonabbey.co.uk "An exciting, unique, adventurous, proactive school." | Good Schools Guide 2021 13-18 | Co-ed | Full Boarding or Day School Abbey.indd House (Autumn Milton 1 2021).pdf 1
27/05/21 14:12:4016:48 13/08/2021
LEADER FIRST WOR D
EMPOWER OUR CHILDREN
Environmental campaigner, Julia Hailes believes that schools can do more to prevent eco-anxiety becoming the biggest mental health issue of our time
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ver 70 per cent of 18 to 24-year-olds feel eco-anxiety, according to research carried out by Force of Nature – an NGO founded in 2019 by 19-year-old climate activist, Clover Hogan. Talking to children around the world, the survey found that many of them have an existential dread of the future that keeps them awake at night. The really shocking thing is that they have visions of a dystopian blockbuster – cities underwater, empty supermarket shelves and a world under siege from environmental disasters. In contrast, current-day leaders look forward to a techno-utopia, for example, with flying cars and diseases eradicated. My own sons corroborated the research, pulling no punches. ‘Old people don’t think about the future but young people do. They think about it a lot,’ said my 22-year-old son, Monty. Looking back to my childhood – I was born in 1961 – I was largely unaware of the looming threat to our planet. The world behaved as if resources were infinite, the disposable society was taking off, forests around the world were being destroyed with hardly anyone noticing, wilderness areas shrinking and world population exploding – it has increased from about three billion to nearly eight in my lifetime. Yet, there was absolutely nothing in my education that told me what was happening to the planet. Perhaps my father lit a flame – we went on long walks talking about nature, wildlife and human impacts. My real epiphany happened on my travels. I remember staring at the trees stretching into the far horizon impossibly beautiful. Then, I heard the sound of chainsaws. My Spanish hosts in Western Brazil were in the business of cutting down trees. The mission to save the rainforests kicked off my environmental career. In my mid-20s, I co-founded the pioneering environmental thinktank and consultancy, SustainAbility. A year later, in 1988, our Green Consumer Guide, was published, which went on to sell over one million copies. I became a regular on BBC and ITV news and chat programmes. What is striking about many of today’s environmental campaigners is how young they are. Greta Thunberg was only 15 when she came
to public attention by staging climate strikes outside the Swedish Parliament. Students around the world joined her and started the Fridays for Future movement, whilst Greta addressed world leaders about the urgency of the climate crisis. She is not alone. I’ve just been sent a newly-published book to review – Tomorrow is Too Late, edited by 15-year-old Grace Maddrell. She went on her first school strike aged 13 and now describes herself as a passionate activist Julia Hailes for equality and climate justice. Her compilation of climate fighting stories are written by teenagers around the globe - from India, Iran, USA, Pakistan, Germany and Brazil, to name a few. Generations X, Y and Z have seen fires raging across Australia and California, the extraordinary heat bubble in North America this year, dying coral reefs, wildlife extinctions escalating, exceptional floods, powerful hurricanes and new records being set every year in weather extremes. They feel angry, despairing and powerless. ‘It’s not just my life, it’s everyone I love. It is all of my future. There is no end to it,’ said my other son Connor Bryant, 26, just as eloquently. The next generation is no longer debating whether climate change is real or whether we should be changing the way society works. They know it is happening and that we must be radical in our response. It’s clear that previous generations have exploited the planet and this generation must put it back together again. Are schools doing enough to make this happen? I don’t think so. The current curriculum is preparing pupils for a world that’s gone. We need a brand new one equipped to face the challenges confronting us now. This means environmental issues should be cross-curricular, in assemblies, in the canteens, in the school grounds and in every part of school life. What’s more we need teacher training that puts it top of the agenda. Surely, the key to eco-anxiety is education? We have to empower children so they can embrace the future rather than dread it.
The current curriculum is preparing pupils for a world that’s gone. We need a brand new one equipped to face the challenges confronting us now
Julia Hailes MBE is supporting Operation Future Hope which is spearheading a rewilding initiative in schools’ grounds and gardens. Autumn/Winter 2021 | SCHOOLHOUSEMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 35
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Bryanston School, Dorset
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SENIOR HEAD VIEW
BOLD VOICES
Mark Mortimer, Headmaster of Bryanston, says the responsibility to address the Everyone’s Invited revelations must be shared by schools, parents and the government
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arlier in the year, harrowing personal accounts of misogyny, harassment and sexual assault from children and young adults around the country received a great deal of media attention. The impact on schools – on society – has been profound and many have realised they need to act quickly but not rashly. What is encouraging is that the subsequent debate and discussion about gendered violence and gendered inequality is widespread, but actions speak louder than words. Schools have a central role to play in raising awareness, challenging, and changing societal behaviour. Relying solely on the traditional PSHE curriculum is not enough. Bryanston is a school that has always celebrated its culture of openness, diversity, and tolerance, but I am neither naïve nor complacent. Bryanston was mentioned on the Everyone’s Invited website and there is more we can, and will, do. This commitment underpins our work with Bold Voices, an organisation that aims to educate young people about gender inequality and gendered violence. Founder, Natasha Eeles and I have worked together for several years. Last year, we started to plan a comprehensive and sustainable programme at Bryanston to champion equality and challenge some widespread and engrained stereotypes: blue vs Mark Mortimer pink, roles around the house, gender bias in certain professions, in the choice of academic subjects, even of musical instruments. However, what must not happen is for schools to be left to tackle this cultural concern alone. As adults, parents or teachers we must take responsibility not to be a bystander, to speak out, to set an example and model the change we want to see, calling out gendered stereotypes, slurs and insults. The concerning findings of the recent Ofsted report show how many victims felt there was no point in reporting harmful sexual incidents, and simply shrugged them off as ‘normal’ behaviour. I have no doubt
that many teachers and parents significantly underestimate the extent of the problem. To make reform, the government has a vital role to play. Just as importantly, so do parents. It’s essential that children get the same messages at home and at school. As a teacher and parent of three young children, I understand that it’s not always easy to know what to say or how to support one’s children. I am no expert, but simply accepting that fact is an important first step. There is a lot of valuable advice available and research will quickly pay off. An honest, understanding and a non-judgemental approach when talking to one’s children is invaluable. Listen to them: what do they think, what have they experienced? Many schools, like Bryanston, also offer educational support for parents via seminars or online resources. I encourage parents to engage with these and take advantage of them. Our reflections have now widened the scope of the Bold Voice programme, ahead of its launch this month. It will be ongoing, not just throughout this academic year, but in the years ahead. Working with pupils and Bold Voices, the programme will evolve and adapt. It will be for pupils, staff and parents, while also involving the local community. Everyone, whatever their gender, age or background, must feel included in these conversations. Bryanston is a proud member of the Blandford Schools’ Network of local state schools, the majority of which are primary schools. The intention is for our pupils to work with younger children at an age where gendered perceptions are formed. This is not virtue signalling. It is the right thing to do. We have a lot to learn, I have a lot to learn, but we are committed. It is for the longterm. I am proud to lead a school where pupil voice is empowered. Where students stand up for equality and mutual respect is in the fabric of their being.
Bryanston is a proud member of the Blandford Schools’ Network of local state schools, the majority of which are primary schools. The intention is for our pupils to work with younger children at an age where gendered perceptions are formed.
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Hurlingham Prep pupils experiment in a physics class
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PREP HEAD VIEW
TIME TO CHANGE Hurlingham prep school head Simon Gould calls for prep schools to embrace a more egalitarian era
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mid the chaos and uncertainty of the past year, school leaders – like all those in positions of responsibility – have been tested in ways they never have before. As a new head of a large, co-ed prep school in London, finding a pathway through the pandemic has been challenging. It has been a period like no other, yet as we start to come out the other side, it is clear that each challenge has also brought with it new opportunity. Our schools have been required to act quickly, to adapt, adopt and practise new routines overnight; they absorbed the need for change with enthusiasm and bravery. I believe we are gifted a golden opportunity to pause, reflect and reset; to draw from it the chance to craft a new progressive strategic plan to move forwards. The prep school market is currently in a state of flux. The pandemic has prompted many families to re-evaluate and look at their lives through a different lens. With the viability of working from home now proven to be a very real option for many people, a considerable number of families have taken the decision to uproot and swap the fast pace of city life for the rural idyll. Others have been prompted to do things differently, either as a result of changes to circumstance or by the spotlight the pandemic has shone on the wealth a nd pr iv ilege disparities that exist so starkly within our society. I nd e p e nd e nt education, and especially the prep schools within it, must be alive to the changes afoot. Prep schools, especially in the cities, can no longer trade on established reputations and the reassurance that if parents have money, they will automatically opt for the local independent school without even considering their options. State school at four years old is an attractive option for many, and not just because of the financial saving. We are, and
quite rightly so, being forced to look at what we offer to ensure it is a more than credible alternative; one that makes clear its intent to add value and one which can be held to account. The prep school model is still strong and one that is undoubtedly a fabulous springboard, but it must evolve. The first step on this journey is to listen, and I mean really listen. The mindset must shift; we must now reflect the communities we Simon Gould serve and engage with parents, not as the customer, not as those people who judge us from the other side of the wall see us, but as part of the team, as a genuine partner in their child’s development. At Hurlingham, we are clear in our objective to offer ‘more than just a school’; we recognise, and indeed welcome the challenge to go beyond the traditional prep education, to be more outward facing. We are working to establish a central learning hub that reaches out to all families and speaks to the expertise and diversity of our local community, to grow cultural capital and embed a sense of social responsibility. By nurturing partnerships with other local schools, sharing practice and initiating dialogue, we aim to make a positive contribution to the experiences of all. This must include a consideration for parents that see this new imagined future as an attractive proposition but, due to their financial situation, are prevented from applying. Ultimately, it will be the children who are the long term benefactors of such an approach. Through this vital collaboration and modelling, they will learn to have a voice, to express their opinion and learn from each other. Prep school heads must now work to transmit a clear message that they are open to change, ready to listen and committed to securing a new relevance in an increasingly scrutinised sector, so that they lead schools that our pupils are proud to attend.
Prep schools, especially in the cities, can no longer trade on established reputations and the reassurance that if parents have money, they will automatically opt for the local independent school without even considering their options. State school at four years old is an attractive option for many, and not just because of the financial saving
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No lost learning
How educational technology has supported outstanding exam results for Cognita schools Educational technology (EdTech) has played a vital role in schools across the UK during the pandemic – and it is here to stay. With over 40 schools in the UK, Cognita quickly adapted and accelerated their existing digital learning programme over the last 18 months to ensure an uninterrupted education, and prevent any further potential loss of learning in the future. Balancing digital learning opportunities with wellbeing has always been a critical part of Cognita’s approach to education. Now, exam results are strongly indicating that this combined technological and wellbeing provision has been fundamental to minimising lost learning during the challenges of this past year. The exam success for students at Cognita schools has significantly outperformed the national average across GCSE, A-levels, and IB, with students securing places at top Russell Group universities. Fidelma Murphy, Group Education Director said: “These outcomes are all the more impressive due to the unusual circumstances over the last 16 months and are testament to the hard work, resilience and commitment shown by our students and teachers.” The pandemic has shown the potential of EdTech to support effective learning. Cognita students can celebrate being part of a progressive educational environment that places emphasis on building future-ready skills whilst strongly supporting the individual child’s ability and needs.
To find your nearest Cognita school: cognita.com/school-finder
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OPINION
OUT OF TOUCH Catherine Milner argues that we ignore the benefits of children working with their hands at our peril
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he National Curriculum for Art and Design states that primary schools are not required by law to teach ‘pencil, charcoal, paint or clay’. Quite apart from making me wonder what is taught in art lessons, it makes me question a system that denies children the opportunity of acquiring the kind of hands-on skills that might lead onto a variety of careers beyond merely becoming an artist – and that might also make them happier. The Children’s Society’s annual Good Childhood report this year found that, overall, 15-year-olds in Britain were among the unhappiest in Europe. Equally, the number of British children aged nine to 12 admitted to hospital after harming themselves has doubled in the past six years. Social media, coupled with the social isolation brought on by the pandemic, is often blamed for causing this epidemic of anxiety and sadness among the young. Yet the Government doesn’t seem to have considered how, by simply changing the National Curriculum in Art and Design so that children routinely spend two or three hours a week learning how to make a painting, pot or indeed anything at all by hand – this situation could be remedied. There is ample evidence that making art helps overcome mental health problems; it lowers cortisol levels, calms the amygdala and interrupts the cycle of stress and emotional burnout that can lead to neurological and mental imbalances. The World Health Organisation recently commissioned a report from the University of London which traced 7,558 children from the age of seven and concluded that activities such as crafts, painting and drawing were associated with a lower risk of social and behavioural maladjustment by the time they were aged 11. Even the Department for Culture sees its benefits. A report it published in 2010 stated that ‘participation in structured arts activities can increase
cognitive abilities across all disciplines by between 16 and 19 per cent’. But it is a notion that today’s Department for Education stubbornly ignores. Instead, teachers are given only 11 hours’ coaching in how to teach art during their three-year PGCE training course; of which just two hours is devoted to learning how to teach practical art skills. Fine art graduates, who you might expect would be lining Inside King Edward’s Bath’s Art Department up to teach art in schools, are not in a much better position. The disciplines of oil painting, observational drawing or modelling in clay or wood, are relegated to the dustbin of history by many if not most major art schools. Jobs teaching art and design in schools may be increasingly thin on the ground for them anyway. According to a report by the Department of Education this year, there has been an eight per cent drop in the amount of art teachers in UK schools in the last ten years and a whopping 48 per cent drop in those teaching design and technology. Teachers say that children aren’t interested in making art any longer; and the 33 per cent drop in take up of GCSE art in the last ten years possibly bears this out. But whether they are not interested because art in the digital age is simply too lacking in razzamataz to attract them or whether they have lost heart having never been taught sufficiently well to create an artwork good enough to convince them it is a subject worth pursuing, is the moot point. Either way, they are losing touch with touch itself and the many ramifications of this we will only see in the poor design of our buildings and cars as well as bad surgery, bad haircuts, paintings and sculptures in the decades to come. And in the booming numbers of unhappy young people.
Even the Department for Culture sees its benefits. A report it published in 2010 stated that ‘participation in structured arts activities can increase cognitive abilities across all disciplines by between 16 and 19 per cent’. But it is a notion that today’s Department for Education stubbornly ignores
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PREPARATION FOR LIFE Eaton Square, a world-class family of schools with a strong global outlook, is expanding. September 2022 will see the much anticipated opening of Eaton Square Senior School’s Sixth Form.
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ocated in an elegant Georgian townhouse in the cultural, commercial hub of Belgravia, London, the Eaton Square Sixth Form is fundamentally future-focused, without losing sight of traditional values. Applying a rigorous academic priority to a vibrant, entirely bespoke educational framework; a Preparation for Life programme lies at its core. The aim? To fully prepare each pupil for life beyond school. The Preparation For Life programme is unique to the Eaton Square Sixth Form. Enabling every pupil to become a global citizen, modules span financial literacy, business basics, managing mental health, entrepreneurship, nutrition and leadership. Complementing this is the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ): a soughtafter qualification empowering pupils to pursue a project relevant to their unique interests and aspirations. Both courses require independent research, critical thinking, public speaking, writing and debate: invaluable skills, vital for developing young adults ready to make their mark in the world. A powerful academic focus is equally important. Pupils take three A-levels with specialist teachers, individualised support, regular assessment and exam preparation classes. Fulfilling potential is a priority and pupils are equipped with
tools for achieving this. Notably, as the only central London Sixth Form in the prestigious Dukes Education family, Eaton Square provides unparalleled access to worldleading university consultancies. Comprising A-List Education (the UK’s leading US university admissions specialists), The Medic Portal, The Lawyer Portal and Oxbridge Applications, the wealth of university preparation support is outstanding.
The progressive framework behind the Sixth Form truly sets it apart. ‘It is important to recognise that our Sixth Form is clearly distinguished from both an independent sixth-form college and from a school,’ says Sebastian Hepher, Principal of Eaton Square Schools. ‘Instead, we pioneer the benefits of both: balancing the pastoral focus and academic framework of school life with the sixth-form pupils meriting greater independence and ownership of their educational journey. As such, each student’s timetable is individually tailored to them, their form tutor assumes more of a ‘mentor’ role, and pupils wear business dress – encouraging them to approach their studies as they would their adult life and future career.’ Environment naturally plays a key part in the success of any school. The setting of the Sixth Form is unparalleled. Majestically overlooking Eccleston Square and a short walk from London Victoria, access from all parts of London and the Home Counties is simple. Moreover, its location is just moments from London’s globally renowned cultural venues, business hubs, royal palaces, interior design districts, restaurants, shops and cafes. Opportunities and places to develop internships and friendships are abundant. The Sixth Form’s historic building is undergoing fresh refurbishment from prestigious architects, LXA. Drawing on their decades of experience, Eaton Square is working closely with LXA to create exceptional teaching and learning spaces, specifically suited to sixth-formers. These include a high-spec art studio, dark room for photography, multi-purpose science labs, fully resourced library, study spaces, contemporary social areas and plenty of light, airy rooms for teaching, collaborative work and meetings. By combining an evident emphasis on personal enrichment and academic success with an internationally acclaimed location, facilities and resources, this Sixth Form is on track to cultivate tomorrow’s leaders: individuals enriched with curiosity, confidence, a strong sense of community and an instinctive love of learning. DON’T MISS OUT! You are warmly invited to Eaton Square Senior School’s Sixth Form Information Evening on Tuesday 28th September 2021 (6pm-8pm) at Eaton Square Senior School, 106 Piccadilly, London W1J 7NL. RSVP: admissions.senior@ eatonsquareschools.com; +44 (0)20 7491 7393 www.eatonsquareschools.com Places are strictly limited. Secure your place early to avoid any disappointment.
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Francis Holland, Sloane Square, London
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HEADS DEBATE As Winchester welcomes girls into its sixth-form, Eleanor Doughty finds that heads are divided on the future of single-sex education
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PHOTOS: MARLBOROUGH COLLEGE
n Tuesday 21 December 1869, Edward Thring, headmaster of Uppingham School in Rutland, convened a panel of 13 headmasters at his house. These heads – of Repton, Felsted, Oakham et al, all single sex boys senior public schools – went on to form what is now known as the Headmasters and Headmistresses’ Conference (HMC). Now only three of the founder member schools remain single-sex – Sherborne, Tonbridge and Dulwich College. It’s a familiar story. Of the 18 members of the Rugby Group, also all former boys’ schools, just two remain boys-only without plans to admit girls. This September, 13-year-old girls arrived at Charterhouse for the first time. Winchester College is opening its sixth-form doors to girls next year after 640 years of being boys only. Today, the HMC has 298 member schools. Just 48 are boys only. In contrast, the Girls’ School Association (GSA), whose senior girls’ member schools are also part of the HMC and include the 23 Girls’ Day Trust schools, has 142 members. So what happened to the boys’ British public school? The first one to break ranks was Marlborough College. The Duchess of Cambridge’s alma mater took the decision to admit 15 sixth-form girls in 1968. Where one goes, others follow: Rugby in 1970; Uppingham and Brighton College in 1973; Stowe in 1974, St Edward’s, Oxford, in 1982 and Oundle in 1990. By the mid-1980s two-thirds of boys’ public schools had female pupils. Speaking at a 1984 conference, Peter Watkinson, headmaster of what is now Rydal Penrhos School in North Wales, described the admittance of girls into his own school as a ‘survival tactic’. It had, said Watkinson, ‘enabled a large number of boys’ schools to ride… the rough waves of unprecedented inflation and political hostility’. In short, teenage girls of the 1980s saved the public school. Dr Martin Stephen, the former High Master of St Paul’s, with his wife Jenny, a former head of South Hampstead High School, was the first housemaster of St Alban’s, the first girl’s house at Haileybury in the 1970s. Dr Stephen wishes that the obvious conclusion, that co-education often came about for financial reasons was more 44 | SCHOOLHOUSEMAGAZINE.CO.UK | Autumn/Winter 2021
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Marlborough students, Wiltshire
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openly admitted. ‘The motivation for bringing girls in was firstly financial, and secondly league table-dominated,’ he says, adding that, ‘I’ve never seen any shame in bringing extra pupils in because you need to address the balance sheet and improve the results. Just be honest about it.’ Co-education has been – and continues to be – a boon to the public school with many dipping their toe in gently by first just taking girls in the sixth form. But not everyone believes that this is a good model. Half a century after the arrival of its first sixth form girls, Charterhouse is going fully co-ed this year. ‘The days of boys’ schools with girls only in the sixth form are gone, I think,’ says Dr Alex Peterken, Charterhouse’s headmaster. ‘If you’re going to do co-ed, do it properly’. I wonder why it took so long for this to happen at Charterhouse. ‘There was a feeling from parents that it would be good to mix [boys and girls] for sixth form as good preparation for university, but attitudes have changed,’ says Peterken. Rather slowly as it happens. Dr Tim Hands, Warden of Winchester points out that their decision is not driven by financial need but rather has been on the cards for some time. Since 1985 to be precise, when a former warden James Sabben-Clare was actually appointed on the basis that he would bring in girls. ‘There is no shortage of applicants to the school as it is,’ says Hands who recognises that the demand for boarding and single schools boys schools is unlikely to be on an upward trajectory. Nevertheless, at Winchester, one of the most academic schools in the country, the move has been adopted because the ‘governing body have decided that now’s the time.’ So, the argument continues on when, how and whether to go co-ed. Much research has been conducted into the ‘best’ method of educating children, and those in both the single-sex and co-ed camp will always back their team. Successive pieces of research have found that girls do better in single-sex schools while boys do better in co-ed schools; in 2015, a study found that 75 per cent of pupils in all-girls secondary schools received five good GCSEs, compared with 55 per cent at co-ed schools. A 2017 study by Utrecht University found that in schools with more than 60 per cent girls, boys had better reading scores: concluding that ‘boys seemed to be positively affected by a high proportion of female students in a school’. The study found that ‘girls possibly set a more successful learning climate in the schools and classrooms, to which boys were more susceptible’. The school of thought that leads from this, that ‘girls civilise boys’ is, however, not a popular one. In a letter to The Sunday Times following Winchester’s announcement,
Girls at Downe House, Berkshire
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‘There has been a shift away from the prestige brand. Parents are interested in the schools where their kids are going to be happy – they’re not so interested in it being Eton or Radley, as opposed to some other school.’ Dr Alex Peterken, headmaster at Charterhouse Cheryl Giovannoni, Chief Executive of the Girls’ Day School Trust, suggested that ‘boys’ schools going co-ed do so to benefit boys. They are not aiming to give those girls the best possible girl-focused education, but for them to be a civilising influence on boys’. But, says Dr Stephen, ‘this is insulting to both boys and girls. The last reason on earth for bringing girls into a school is “to civilise boys”.’ Emma McKendrick, headmistress of Downe House School in Berkshire, concurs. ‘There can be a sense that girls are good for boys because they level things out, but that’s not a role I want our women to play, I want them to have an education in their own right’. Downe House girls leave school with ‘an expectation to be treated equally,’ says McKendrick. Alastair Chirnside, the new Warden of St Edward’s School, Oxford sees Winchester’s decision as ‘a sign of the times’. Like Dr Peterken, he is an Old Etonian but believes that ‘co-education is a better way forward’. What crystallised this for him wasn’t his time working in single-sex education – most recently Pupils at Charterhouse, Surrey, with as Harrow deputy head – but choosing schools their Headmaster Dr Alex Peterken for his two daughters. ‘The biggest thing for me is the range of social experience that children have in their formative years. In a co-ed school, this is just wider,’ he says. But what does that mean for the future of single-sex schools, if even an Old Etonian, former Harrow deputy head thinks co-ed is best? Leo Winkley, headmaster of Shrewsbury School, which went fully co-educational in 2014, believes, ‘it would be a real shame if there was no such thing as a boys’ school, and no such thing as a girls’ school, because that would have removed a really important choice.’ Dr Peterken suspects that over the next decade, boys’ school may become ‘even less appealing’. He has observed a shift ‘away from the prestige brand. Parents are interested in the schools where their kids are going to be happy – they’re not so interested in it going to Eton or Radley, as opposed to some other school’. Chirnside agrees. Parents, he says, ‘think more about school choice in the round than they used to, with more of an emphasis on wellbeing.’ That’s not to say that boys’ schools can’t, and don’t offer this. Sherborne School in Dorset is all boys, but neighbours Sherborne Girls, and the sixth form share some A-level subjects. ‘Where I think single-sex can go wrong is when boys don’t set eyes on girls apart from on Saturday nights’, explains Sherborne headmaster Dr Dominic Luckett. He avoids this by working closely with Shrewsbury School, Shropshire the girls’ school: ‘we have a big social programme, Autumn/Winter 2021 | SCHOOLHOUSEMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 47
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Mixed-sex orchestra at Sherborne Schools
and do choir, orchestra, and drama together, as well as Amnesty in it is immune from these issues, but a few years ago we set up the Joint International; many of our clubs are run jointly. Our boys work Pupil Pastoral Forum, where boys and girls can talk about a range of productively with the girls. If you don’t get those positive interactions, pastoral issues. We’re very lucky in that respect – I’m not sure what there is a danger that stereotypes can emerge of a single-sex-educated outlet there is for that in a standalone boys’ school with no access to an equivalent girls’ school.’ male who doesn’t know how to interact with girls’. Dr Peterken admits this much: ‘Eton was wonderful but I felt pretty Interestingly, when the tables are turned, it seems that the girls’ inept coming out the other end when I went to university’. schools have no interest in bringing in boys. Their resilience is testimony The latest scandal to rattle schools is the emergence of Everyone’s to the success of the all girl’s model or is it something more? When I Invited, the ‘space created for survivors to share their stories’, with, at ask Samantha Price, headmistress of Benenden in Kent whether she would take boys, she laughs, and says, ‘I don’t think the alumni would the time of writing, over 15,000 anonymous testimonies of rape culture allow it. What I would like to do is open a Benenden boys, but I haven’t recorded from pupils at schools of all shapes and sizes. Jenny Stephen suspects that got the money’. Price believes Everyone’s Invited will be even that far from the single-sex sector more of a reason for schools such declining, it might even be on the as St Paul’s to take girls: ‘They’ll up: ‘numbers here continue to be see it as a way of educating boys very strong’. But that, she says, is and girls to grow up together, about the quality of the school, and overcome some of these more than the structure. ‘We get horrendous societal issues.’ a lot of parents who look at us Having more co-ed schools can alongside co-ed schools because only be positive for combatting they’re not sure. It might be that Leo Winkley, head of Shrewsbury School, London the kinds of behaviour that have single-sex is a driver, but it’s what been reported, says Dr Peterken. we offer that they think is right’. ‘It can only help to have schools that are healthy with boys and girls It is the job of all heads to sell you their dream, but at the end of the living together and playing together, where mutual respect, kindness, day, it doesn’t matter where you send your child as long as they’re happy. and inclusivity is absolutely a part of the culture’. ‘I started my career in a boys’ school’, says Price, this year’s President of the Girls’ Schools Association. ‘I don’t think there is one type of school It is not just independent schools that are in the spotlight for Everyone’s Invited, adds Peterken: ‘All schools have got to do better. which is better than another’. And who knows what’s around the corner? We can’t solve this problem on our own, but as teachers and as leaders The day before Winchester College announced that they would be taking we’ve got a very important role in culture, in pastoral education, and girls, few could have suspected it. Is Eton next? As Dr Peterken puts it: ‘Eton might be over 500 years old, but it will want to have an education in helping our young people understand issues around consent, relationships and pornography.’ which is future-ready. I hope they would keep open-minded about it, but Dr Luckett hopes that the relationship his boys have with Sherborne let’s not underestimate the challenges of going co-ed. It’s not as simple as flicking a switch.’ Girls helps to foster more positive experiences. ‘No school with boys
‘It would be a real shame if there was no such thing as a boys’ school, and no such thing as a girls’ school, because that would have removed a really important choice.’
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PREPPED & READY TO GO Melanie Cable-Alexander makes the transition from prep to senior school
Prep students at Moulsford School, Oxfordshire
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ransitioning from prep to senior school can feel terrifying to a ten year old but if it’s done well, the same child, a year or two later, is desperate to get out of his or her prep school and rides the wave of transition with aplomb. For behind that transition process is an army of dedicated teachers working hard to send each pupil on their way. It’s all in the name. Prep schools ‘prep’ children for their next school and ‘stand or fall’ by their senior school destination. However, this brings pressure which is ultimately borne by the pupils so a good head works hard to prepare them for the process. These days, the Common Entrance exam at aged 13 is less popular and more emphasis is being placed on the pre-test or 11+. Consequently, greater stock is on the interview as opposed to the actual assessment, says Bridget Saul, headteacher of London prep school Cameron Vale in Chelsea. ‘Schools like Winchester, Wellington and Cranleigh use the ISEB pre-test at 11 to whittle out who they actually want to interview.’ What so many school are looking for, says Richard Murray, head of Christ Church Cathedral School, Oxford, which is pocket-sized but packs a punch in school placements to top senior schools, ‘is someone whom a teacher would love to have in their classroom. Curiosity, enthusiasm and energy are all qualities prized by senior schools. So we promote opportunities to converse. My favourite is meal times.’ Indeed, prep school heads see part of their job as making sure a child has plenty of interview practice, even if they don’t know it. Traditionally, parents set on a specific school, tried to improve their child’s chances of selection by sending them to a feeder prep school. Ludgrove, Cothill, Summer Fields and Dragon School are all known feeder schools for Eton and Harrow, with a few off to Winchester. Horris Hill has strong associations with Winchester College and Radley College. However, this relationship is now becoming more formalised. Aware that a degree of natural fluidity makes sense, senior schools have been acquiring their own preps. In the past year, Charterhouse has taken on Edgeborough; Godolphin and Latymer has merged with Redcliffe Prep; Sherborne School has hooked up with Sherborne Prep; Tonbridge School in Kent is merging with The New Beacon prep school and Rugby School has adopted Bilton Grange. ‘Although Bilton Grange children are not guaranteed a place it does make the pathway between the two schools easier,’ says Amanda Hunter of Rugby. Tom Morgan, head of King’s Rochester Prep from which pupils jump into the oldest Cathedral school in the country, elaborates. ‘Many of the senior teachers also teach in Years 7 and 8. This allows staff to get to know the idiosyncracies and learning styles of pupils before they start teaching them for their GCSEs. ‘There are so many pluses,’ adds Hunter, ‘from being able to share sports staff who provide professional coaching to sharing facilities, teaching and learning.’ Kilgraston, Scotland This ethos of sharing has Autumn/Winter 2021 | SCHOOLHOUSEMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 51
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Space to bond. Set in 200 acres of beautiful countryside and just four miles from the breathtaking North Norfolk coast, a Gresham’s education gives your child all the time and space they need to develop into a confident, well-rounded individual.
greshams.com | Holt, Norfolk An independent boarding and day school for children aged 2-18
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Rugby School, Warkwickshire
Sevenoaks Prep, Kent
reaped dividends for prep schools with typically smaller pockets as they rode the waves of the pandemic. ‘Our merger with Godolphin and Latymer in 2020 proved extremely helpful when it came to tackling the challenges posed by covid,’ says new head of Redcliffe School, Ben Dunhill, particularly when it came to adapting their ‘admissions and senior school transition process online.’ If the pandemic inspired a technological revolution in prep and senior schools’ use of online learning and assessments it also provoked what some might consider a regressive step in inspiring a spike in demand for boarding which is at last being recognised for its true qualities, not least being able to provide an excellent well-rounded education in splendid isolation.
‘Covid has had an interesting effect on our pupil intake,’ explains Dorothy MacGinty, headteacher at Kilgraston School, Perthshire. ‘We are seeing a big uptake from the UK often fuelled by pupils themselves, many from London and the South East, albeit with Scottish associations. Long spells at home during lockdowns has been detrimental to them.’ Prep schools which make boarding compulsory during the final years as their solution to helping the switch to boarding senior schools have witnessed the same accelerated demand, including Cothill House, Ludgrove, Dragon School, Sandroyd and Leweston Prep in Dorset. Leweston regards boarding as such a key element of its current education strategy that it lists the top six reasons why pupils should choose boarding as an option, which include a ‘24/7 learning environment’, and ‘living away from home,’ which given the pressure pupils and parents have been under in the lockdowns of 2020 and 2021 must inspire nothing but an hallelujah’s breath of relief for both. When heads are asked specifically what they do to make any crossover into senior school manageable beyond academics, they are remarkably unanimous in their responses: encourage ‘responsibility’ and ‘independence’ in senior years; build ‘confidence’; create an ‘I can’ outlook; teach that ‘mistakes are ok’; cultivate ‘attitudes which travel from the Science Lab to the Sports Hall’, provide ‘learning support’ for those struggling academically. These are part of the Swiss Army Knifelike set of tools with which heads are determined to equip their pupils. In London, in particular, heads are adding an additional tool: wellbeing. ‘There is a tangible intensity to life in London,’ explains Oliver Snowball, head of Eaton House The Manor Girls’ School. ‘In a day and age when it is all too easy for children to be critical of themselves, we want the girls to value themselves as much as they value their learning.’ He now employs a new Head of Wellbeing, open to discussing anything. Communication is always key, especially when it comes to heads managing parents’ expectations, arguably, one of their most important and subtle of skills. At Eaton House The Manor Boys’ School, this starts early in Year 4 where parents learn not to be ‘swayed by a name’ but to think of ‘the individual child’s needs’. At St James Prep, which ensures pupils ‘have a person of warmth as well as a form tutor’ monitoring them, the head Kris Spencer urges parents, ‘not every school suits every child, but there is a school out there for every child’. Autumn/Winter 2021 | SCHOOLHOUSEMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 53
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Boarders at Leweston, Dorset
A sensible parent will listen to their head. As Richard Murray of Christ Church Cathedral School says, ‘we spend time getting to know registrars and heads of senior schools’, and are therefore good at linking pupils to schools. Like most heads he discourages tutoring. The senior schools hate it: it adds no more than an additional pressure to an already pressurised process. Unfortunately, most London parents ignore that message: I was once asked to pick up a friend’s twins from their tutoring group and was horrified to spot my son’s entire class there as well. Out of all them, he was the one who most justified additional tutoring as he was dyslexic but naively, perhaps, I had listened to his head. My solution was to take him out of London and place him into the more relaxed environment of a cosy country prep school. And there are a number of prep schools just waiting to scoop up those who don’t seem to be a natural fit for high-end mainstream education. One of them is Bruern Abbey, Oxfordshire whose remit is to take dyslexic boys and prepare them for entry into mainstream senior schools, which they have been doing for several decades with considerable success. ‘We seek the way in which each child learns best and build confidence which can be at a really low ebb by the time the pupils arrives here,’ says deputy head Charles Banbury. Bruern’s results speak for themselves: ‘one of our former pupils is Deputy Head at Radley,’ Banbury says proudly, but they send boys all over to Charterhouse, Stowe, St Edwards, Milton Abbey and even to Winchester and Eton. By parental demand, the school is opening a senior school where pupils will take their GCSEs before transitioning into a sixth form environment. Senior schools are as keen to support their newcomers as the preps are to post them over and are sensitive about integrating pupils coming from small schools to large senior ones where prefects are
classed as adults and there maybe as many as a thousand plus pupils. Millfield in Somerset, the largest co-ed senior school in the country with 1,250 pupils living in 19 different houses, has acknowledged the challenge of settling into a large school by creating a ‘specialist programme of dedicated Year 9 boarding houses at the heart of the campus’. ‘It’s made an enormous difference to the students transitioning into the school as they get to know one another in an age specific environment,’ says director of Year 9, Toby Sawrey-Cookson. It also helps settle the jockeying amongst new alpha boys for position. From there, they can be channelled into the right house, getting the best fit of pupils. Bryanston in Dorset also offers a year 9 transitional house. The girls’ school, St Mary’s Calne, in Wiltshire is one of the few schools to continue the horizontal method of boarding throughout the school because says the head, Dr Felicia Kirk, ‘vertical boarding can restrict the number of friends girls can make within their own year group. With horizontal boarding girls can get to know everyone in their year quickly.’ Most senior schools like Sherborne School try to acclimatise children before they arrive by holding taster days and appoint older pupils to mentor newcomers. But what happens if the sixth-former appointed as mentor loses interest, which can occur? Senior house master Ben Sunderland answers: ‘Well, that’s when the house master has to know the personality of the people he matches together and watch out for the pupil.’ And therein lies the tale, for as any seasoned parent, or indeed, head, will tell you, it’s the housemistress or master who counts. They are the person who will welcome in a timid 13 year old, guide your child, and you, through GCSEs, A-levels and ultimately wave off a young adult to the university of life; ignore them at your peril.
At St James Prep, which ensures pupils have a person of warmth as well as a form tutor monitoring them, the head Kris Spencer urges parents, ‘Not every school suits every child, but there is a school out there for every child’
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IN DEFENCE OF BREADTH James Webb, Senior Deputy Head of Academics at Port Regis School, explains why a broad curriculum is best
PHOTOS: ANGELA WARD BROWN
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he phrase ‘Jack of all trades, master of none…’ has found its place in our language as something of an insult. However, the full quotation was originally a compliment by continuing ‘…though oftentimes better than a master of one’. While we remain fans of Common Entrance in general, Port Regis is not the only prep school in the past three to four years to spend time reviewing its curriculum, reassessing the weighting dedicated to different subjects, and refining its overall academic offer. This phenomenon was already underway pre-pandemic as the introduction of the ISEB Pre-Test indirectly encouraged an increase in the amount of time spent on the English and maths in Year 5, perhaps also the amount of homework in those subjects, or maybe both. Some schools have even started ‘teaching’ verbal and non-verbal reasoning, even though those two intellectual activities (which take many forms and for which there is no recognised curriculum) are nothing more than proxies for intelligence and academic potential rather than end goals. Note that there is no GCSE, A-level or degree course in either of these disciplines! To enhance attainment in English, and presumably by extension verbal reasoning, many schools have decided to timetable dedicated reading periods where no other activity is on offer. For some children this is pure joy:
the equivalent of being locked inside a sweet shop. Those who stand to benefit more are reluctant readers who maybe do not read enough at home, where distractions such as the glowing YouTube icon on an iPad or the trampoline in the garden are just too tempting! Enforced reading is a manoeuvre far easier for teachers to execute at school than for parents at home. This dedicated time will lead to far greater life benefits beyond potential extra marks on the ISEB Pre-Test. At Port Regis, we have been able
to add one extra period of maths to the timetable, and proudly continue to ‘force’ children to read, but we have no intention of downgrading or marginalising other lessons as part of the wider curriculum. It is certainly thanks to the varied expertise of my colleagues, many of whom worked at senior schools prior to Port Regis, that a record number of non-academic scholarships and exhibitions were won by our Year 8 cohort of 62 children covering the full range: art, design & technology, drama, music and sport. These, alongside the ten academic awards, prove that a broad curriculum full of non-core subjects can complement a commitment to academic excellence. The unprecedented achievements of the leaving cohort of 2021 are testament to the children’s resilience and the quality of our online learning programme. Providing an environment where children can sample all things – and potentially master some – gives them a better chance of discovering unknown talents and, crucially, enjoying their precious prep school years.
Discover Port Regis by attending an upcoming open morning or arranging a personal tour at www.portregis. com. Follow their instagram @PortRegis
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Dauntsey’s School, Wiltshire, performing The Lord of the Flies
CLUB to CAREER Old Harrovian Benedict Cumberbatch
Sally Jones charts the course and effect of extra-curricular activities
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he group of 11 and 12-year-olds carefully traced the pandemic’s effect on the fluctuating stock market prices over the months up to May 2020. When they discovered their investments – hypothetical at this stage – had produced a healthy profit, outperforming the FTSE 100 index by over five per cent, there was great celebration. Now they are punting with real money, an initial stake of £1,000 raised from a school fete, with all profits from their investments channelled into a bursary fund to enable more children from non-privileged backgrounds to attend their school. The youngsters, from Embley, a day and boarding school in Hampshire, are the UK’s first group of schoolchildren to trade
on the London Stock Exchange. According to headmaster Cliff Canning, their club, Embley Asset Management, which meets weekly and is advised by local stockbrokers and other finance experts, has helped to build the children’s knowledge not only of macroeconomics, financial markets, problem-solving, but also ethical investing and responsible stewardship – all vital life-skills. Welcome to the new-style clubs of independent schools – many of which are even leading children on into successful careers. For boarding schools in particular, the time and teaching expertise available give pupils a head start when putting in the hours required to excel at an extra-curricular discipline. Caterham School in Surrey has produced several renowned entrepreneurs via their societies. For Josh Higginson, a sixth
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form Business Studies special project club proved the launch-pad for his highly successful artisan food sourcing brand, Unearthed Foods, which now supplies major stores including Waitrose. Higginson, 30, recently launched an American offshoot. When his near-contemporary Will Moy set up the annual current affairs magazine Preview with three friends in 2010, the boys quickly grasped the vital need for accuracy and the dangers of ‘fake news’ in public life. Soon after leaving school, they launched the fact-checking service FullFact.org which thrived during Brexit and Covid, a vital resource to companies including Channel 4 and Facebook. At Eton too, professionalism and focus are key to extracurricular successes. Its outstanding student-led online publication Etonomics allows boys to choose, research, write and edit their own pieces. Read worldwide by thousands of economics enthusiasts, not just proud parents, its standards of writing and research often equal those of The Economist itself. With increasing emphasis on eco-awareness, schools like Eton and St Paul’s Girls’ (SPGS) spearhead ‘green’ strategies, inspiring numerous students to consider careers in this area. SPGS’s influential Environmental Action Committee runs many pupil-led projects. Dedicated young activists Abigail, Nephele and Amelia described its initiatives in reducing meat consumption, running Restore, a fashionable thrift shop, launching a unique Business and Sustainability course and planting hedgerows to increase biodiversity. ‘I love recycling stuff,’ said talented Year 9 artist Chloe, who has designed environmentally-themed Zoom backgrounds
The Herpetology Club at Papplewick, Ascot
worthy of a professional advertising agency. ‘I sew a lot and enjoy turning old clothes into something new and unique. I’m interested in science so becoming an environmental scientist would enable me to combine two of my interests.’ James Dunne, Merritt Factor and Cosmo Le Breton, committed members of Eton’s rapidly expanding Environmental Society, typify the new breed of campaigners. Dunne hopes to specialise in Environmental Law to continue his eco-activism at a high level. Le Breton, who co-founded the Berkshire Schools Eco-Network, is planning a research trip to Malaysia, taking part in a malaria project. ‘It’s a tremendous opportunity,’ he said. ‘Long term I’d love to study the relationship between conservation and epidemiology.’ Eton also boasts an impressively professional Medical Society, as does King Edward VI High School for Girls, Birmingham, where around a fifth of the pupils go on to study Medicine. Medsoc member Rhea Takhar, 18, recently filled a crucial gap in the market, co-writing a new book of worked solutions to past papers from the BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT.) The months of painstaking research have helped her to win a place for Medicine at Oxford University. Meanwhile a groundbreaking research paper on the physical and mental impact of lockdown on teenagers by Edwardians Noemi Jester and Premjeet Kang, both 18, has been accepted by an official journal of the Royal Society of Public Health. Millfield, renowned as a sporting powerhouse, is offering Students from Caterham School a more cerebral option: eSports. enjoying the Entrepreneur’s evening Students compete against other Autumn/Winter 2021 | SCHOOLHOUSEMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 57
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‘The gaming industry is bigger than film, TV and music combined and esports is an important part of that… School esports allow teachers to ensure that students compete safely and balance this with their academic studies and other commitments. For some it will lead to a career in the games industry and provide transferrable skills for future jobs.’ Matthew Shields, Head of Computer Science and ICT at Millfield School, Somerset schools in age-appropriate team games like Overwatch and Rocket League (three-a-side ‘football with cars’). Some like highly talented Rupert Mayer, 13, are even tipped for a professional career. ‘The gaming industry is bigger than film, TV and music combined and eSports is an important part of that,’ says Millfield’s Head of Computer Science and ICT, Matthew Shields, which no doubt comes as welcome reassurance for parents terrified their teen will spend their life in a twilight world of shoot-em-ups and zombie extravaganzas. ‘School eSports allow teachers to ensure that students compete safely and balance this with their academic studies and other commitments. For some it will lead to a career in the games industry and provide transferable skills for future jobs.’ Typically, Millfield’s star gamers also undergo regular gym training, recognising the importance of physical fitness for mental stamina. While gaming has a cult following, physical prowess and resilience remain major selling points at many top schools. Tim Green, 30, remembers crossing the Bay of Biscay in the
dark aged 15. ‘I was on our school’s tall ship Jolie Brise,’ says the Flight Lieutenant, a former pupil of Dauntsey’s School, Wiltshire, ‘and a storm was coming in and it was my first time on night watch. It was daunting but incredible to face something scary and come through it.’ That whetted his appetite for adventure and he took on the gruelling 125-mile Devizes to Westminster canoe challenge and a freezing expedition in the Brecon Beacons for the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award. ‘You learn to push yourself through the pain barrier and carry on when you want to give up. Enjoying the outdoors and its challenges made me realise I wanted an adventurous job,’ he adds. He became an RAF helicopter pilot, operating in high-risk environments like Afghanistan and training Special Forces in hostage recovery. Dauntsey’s outdoor pursuits also helped forge the future career of his trail-blazing contemporary Rosie Wild, 29. She became the first woman to win the coveted maroon beret of the Parachute Regiment, passing their brutal Selection Test after a timed 20-mile endurance march and an aerial assault course, something few male applicants complete.
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Every evening when we pick our daughter up she has a smile on her face and is full of tales of her day. She loves her class, her surroundings, her lessons and her teachers. Most importantly for us she is thriving at school. As parents we could not be happier with the choice we made. Year 7 parent, December 2020
To learn more about us and what Claremont Fan Court School can do for your child, visit claremontfancourt.co.uk
Claremont Fan Court School Independent | Co-educational | 2½ - 18 years | Esher, Surrey KT10 9LY
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At Gordonstoun, pursuits like professional-standard firefighting and sail training often prove an education in themselves. Sam Reid, from Scunthorpe, who won a prestigious full fees all-rounder scholarship at age 15, so relished voyages aboard the school’s 80 foot-long Bermudan ketch Ocean Spirit of Moray that he also embraced an exciting career lifestyle. After training youngsters to sail at Gordonstoun’s summer schools, he began delivering luxury yachts across Europe, before completing a round-the-world voyage, crewing for a couple on their sailing boat. Generations of Gordonstounians have likewise benefited from the specific skills and ‘can-do’ spirit instilled there. The Princess Royal’s children, Zara and Peter Phillips, have both enjoyed international success, in eventing and rugby respectively, thanks partly to the resolve they learned through school clubs. Like Zara, numerous pupils from ‘horsey’ prep schools such as Hanford, Abberley Hall, Sandroyd and Stonar go on to ride at a high level. Gifted equestrienne Holly Needham relished her lessons on the Abberley ponies before winning an all-rounder sports scholarship to Malvern College, representing GB successfully at European level. Performing arts, another strength of the independent sector, involve teamwork of a more public kind. From Carey Mulligan (Woldingham) and Emma Watson (The Dragon) to Sam West (Alleyn’s) and Benedict Cumberbatch (Harrow), thespian skills developed in school drama clubs often lead on to theatrical careers. Charismatic West End lead, Dean Chisnall, Jean Valjean in Cameron Mackintosh’s Les Misérables, recently became Charterhouse’s first ever Actor-in-Residence. His tips on audition technique and the demands of the professional
Bruton School for Girls doing well at Leith’s Cookery School
Cross-country at Sandroyd, Wiltshire
Gordonstoun Powerboating Club, Moray, Scotland
stage have boosted the prospects of numerous bright young Carthusian talents. Meanwhile, Bruton School for Girls in Somerset specialises in more domestic performance. Its popular lunchtime cookery club Quick Cooks has inspired hundreds of Sixth Formers to complete the highly-rated Leith’s Introductory Certificate in Food and Wine. Several now enjoy high level careers in catering including a Group Innovation Specialist at Nestle and a Leith’s trained chef. ‘Education can be transformative, igniting passions and interests that last a lifetime,’ said Caterham School headmaster Ceri Jones. ‘Some happens in classrooms, some in those unstructured and self-directed times outside lessons. You never know which club, activity, trip or lesson will spark something that becomes a lifelong focus. For so many pupils, ideas, inspired by and incubated at school, ultimately lead them to flourish and excel in their careers.’
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SCHOOL HOUSE PARTNERSHIP
LANGUAGE IMMERSION AND CULTURAL PROFICIENCY Pupils are prepared for a life aided by understanding cultural nuance at EIFA International School
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s society has become more globally connected, the ability to communicate effectively across cultural boundaries has gained increasing prominence. In the workplace, being able to understand and grasp the cultural sensitivities and specificities of all stakeholders may facilitate a deal and improve the results of a company. Ideally, an employee needs to be fluent in foreign languages to be able to interact effectively with multi-cultural stakeholders. People are naturally more prone to engage with people they can relate to and understand. Cultural flexibility, and more generally efficient cross-cultural communication, is best acquired through interaction within an international environment from a young age. Bilingual education is a point of entry to international and multi-cultural awareness. With over 40 nationalities and teachers coming to EIFA from all over the world, the students are exposed to an international environment early on. Most children in the UK are introduced to a foreign language at age 9 and in many cases, their level will never reach a professional fluency level. With public figures, such as the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton,
making headlines for reportedly raising bilingual children, many parents are now considering how to help their young ones learn another language. As EIFA welcomes children as early as the age of 21 months old, the pupils can follow a fully bilingual education until the age of 18 years old. For those pupils who join later without being proficient in one of the languages, the school will ensure they reach
the required level through specialised classes of EAL (English as an Additional Language) and FLE (French as a Foreign Language). In Nursery and Junior School, EIFA pupils benefit from two native speaking teachers for each subject. They follow the official French curriculum with the addition of elements from the British curriculum. Meanwhile, in the Senior School, all core subjects are taught in one or the other language, also by native teachers. From Year 10, pupils prepare for IGCSEs followed by the globally recognised International Baccalaureate® (IB). IGCSEs are an excellent preparation for the rigours of the IB, requiring pupils to take greater responsibility for their learning. It remains rare to be fully literate in two or more languages at native speaker level, without either exposure to the languages from childhood or through intensive study. At EIFA, immersive education in two languages allows children to choose their future educational and career pathways from the vast choices on offer in both the French and English-speaking worlds and stand out from the crowd in a globally competitive marketplace. Private visits and taster days available all year online or onsite by appointment with the registrar, registrar@eifaschool.com. For more information visit www.eifaschool.com
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AN IMMERSIVE
CULTURE Annabel Heseltine finds out how independent schools are addressing governmental concerns that too few pupils are learning foreign languages
St Mary’s Calne students on the Great Wall of China
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In class at Hampton Court House, London
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s Britain headed towards Brexit, and in the wake of a Labour government’s decision to remove the requirement to learn an additional modern foreign language (MFL) from the curriculum in 2004, the British Council, the UK’s international organisation responsible for educational opportunities and fostering trade relations abroad acknowledged the concerns of many in its 2013 report Languages for the future. The report which was updated in 2019, summarised: ‘it is a widely held, if not undisputed, view that the UK is lacking in the necessary language skills for the future.’ Although an MFL was put back on the curriculum in 2014, the downward trend of the last 20 years has not improved. A 2019 British Council report, Language trends in the UK, highlighted growing evidence that a common language is an important driver of attractiveness and willingness to trade and do business, and increases trade flows by 44 per cent, but found a lower than 50 per cent uptake in MFL at GCSE level. This year there was a slight uptake in those taking Spanish for the second year running, but while French was stable, numbers of those taking German GCSEs are plummeting. Worrying news indeed. The independent schools sector has not been immune to this decline in demand to learn a foreign language – part of the problem seems to be a discrepancy in grading which means some language GCSEs are more challenging than others – but most have moved robustly to address the problem, actively piling on the languages, not just French, Spanish and German but Mandarin, Russian, Arabic and Japanese, and finding ways to make language as attractive to boys as girls who are more likely to choose languages. The senior girls’ school Downe House, in Berkshire, has long offered its pupils a chance to stay in France, recently extending that to a term at the Château de Sauveterre, previously used by the prep school group Cothill Trust to give their boys an immersive experience of living and learning in France. Most independent schools pride themselves on their school trips.
‘There is a worrying fall in the numbers of young people studying languages,’ acknowledges Michael Smyth, Deputy Head Academic at St Mary’s Calne, Wiltshire, which encourages pupil interaction with and understanding of other cultures by fostering pen pal friendships and organising foreign exchanges and trips including a bi-annual trip to China and annual excursions to European countries. ‘We believe that learning languages enhances our pupils’ studies and that through their study, they will gain a knowledge that is becoming rarer and more prized both in Higher Education and in the world of work.’ In the same British Council report, Mandarin was ranked fourth on a list of the ten most useful languages for the UK’s future says Francesca Simkin, the Head of Languages at Hampton Court House School (HCH), explaining it as a rationale for HCH foreign trips to China but the school goes a stage further. The co-educational junior and senior day school in south-west London offers an immersive French/English bi-lingual experience for pupils from Year 1 to 4 which they are considering extending to Year 9, ‘so all pupils can take their GCSE in Year 9 and be fluent speakers for life,’ says Simkin underpinning pupils cultural immersion with day visits to the French theatre or the Institut Français, for example. Being immersed in a second language, when a form tutor greets you in French at 8.35am and 50 per cent of all lessons are taught in French as well as life-skills after lunch and in homework club at the end of the day, she says, ‘has a huge impact on the flexibility of pupils’ minds and their ability to absorb information as they get older. We teach children from French speaking backgrounds as well as children from English speaking families all in the same class.’ ‘Children with a bilingual education are more adaptable,’ agrees Nick Otten, co-founder of L’Ecole des Petits & L’Ecole de Battersea, bi-lingual schools for three to 11-year-olds. ‘Language is not just about learning sets of words and grammar, it is also about learning another culture. Children who are bi-lingual tend to have a broader outlook and greater awareness of different races and nationalities. They become more Autumn/Winter 2021 | SCHOOLHOUSEMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 63
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ts e ts e si bl si bl re aila r e lia a SE av SE av s C G ons on ti op The Moat Sixth Form is a dyslexia and SpLD specialist Sixth Form with a focus on whole school SEN support. Providing an academic and nurturing environment for pupils with both unique learning profiles and learning difficulties. A-Level, BTECs alongside GCSE resits at its core with a built in work experience programme for all pupils. Visit www.moatsixthform.org.uk for full course list and more information
All children can achieve
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EDUCATION
Breaktime at Lycee International de Londres Winston Churchill
understanding of others, tolerant and aware of the world in general, with learning difficulties. ‘I have seen numerous cases where students whilst also gaining self-confidence and a sense of responsibility to were fluent in Spanish but their parents didn’t speak a word of it. If themselves and to others.’ the students are motivated and hard-working, watch Spanish films or Latent fears among parents that learning two languages at once, their listen to music in the target language they can make huge progress rapidly.’ Likewise, she adds, ‘teaching material can be adapted for mother tongue and another, can inhibit the academic development of a young child, are addressed by Françoise Zurbach, Head of the students with special educational needs, for example we use the app L’Ecole Internationale Franco-Anglaise (EIFA) a small school with 310 Quizlet, which allows the student to see the word but also listen to how it is pronounced.’ pupils aged 21 months to 18 years old in Portland Place, London, who organised a conference with Dr Roberto Filippi, Director of MULTAC Immersive schools are not new but, while in the UK there are a (Multilanguage and Cognition lab) at UCL. few bilingual schools, there is only one immersive in the Chinese ‘Our experience with toddlers has reinforced the idea that exposure culture and language. Kensington Wade is the first English Chinese to multiple languages promotes dual language prep school cognitive listening, social and was founded in 2017 by interactions and adaptive skills Professor Hugo de Burgh. The Professor had won a in young children,’ she says, contract from the Foreign adding that bilinguals tend to Commonwealth office to learn a third language more easily than monolinguals. ‘This set up a media centre at the is explained by brain elasticity,’ University of Westminster where he is Professor of adds Zurbach, citing work by Dr Filippi who says that, Journalism to teach English Françoise Zurbach, Head of the L’Ecole and Chinese businesspeople ‘despite the initial belief that Internationale Franco-Anglaise (EIFA) learning a second language how to do business with each early in life can delay cognitive other. ‘There were lots of development, there is now a general consensus that multi-language young people, Italians, Russians, Slovenians, Poles and Germans – who experience is inherently advantageous for communication.’ do so much business with the Chinese – who spoke so much better ‘Learning a second language, especially at an early age, enhances Chinese than us. I realised quite rapidly that if you want to do business with the Chinese, you have got to speak Chinese,’ he said. ‘I am not in creativity and academic performance,’ adds Simkin. ‘The key is to keep to “one language, one person” and be consistent.’ the business of teaching Chinese children English but we need to teach Silvane Avezou is the Spanish teacher at the Lycée International de our children to speak and understand the Chinese culture.’ Londres Winston Churchill which opened in London in 2015. She says ‘It’s a relatively new concept,’ he says, ‘but there are around 250 schools that a viral internet survey with two-thirds of a million respondents like this in the USA. We are rather conservative and it will probably take found that although pupils are proficient at learning a second language us another generation to get there but ultimately, I want the children at Kensington Wade to be Brits because I want us to have a close and up until the age of 18 it is best to start before the age of ten to achieve useful relationships with China because its such a big and important grammatical fluency. country.’ No doubt his words will sound like music to the ears of the She believes the bilingual immersive system can be all inclusive British Council. for pupils who do not come from bi-lingual homes as well as those
‘Our experience with toddlers has reinforced the idea that exposure to multiple languages promotes cognitive listening, social interactions and adaptive skills in young children’
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John Floyd and deputy head Charles Banbury, standing proud on the steps of the new Bruern Abbey Senior School, Buckinghamshire
ENGINES OF CHANGE
The essence of the success of independent schools is their freedom to innovate and challenge the status quo, says Annabel Heseltine
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xam results this summer highlighted the ability of independent schools to adapt quickly to deliver a high standard of education even in a pandemic, begging the question how important is the ‘independence’ of schools in delivering this standard of excellence or does it just boil down to having more money in their coffers? Fees, today, range on average from £15,000 for a day school approaching £45,000 a year for a top boarding school, compared to the £5,000 provided annually for a state-educated pupil, and many of them are well-endowed by the ecclesiastical and mercantile benefactors who founded them several centuries back. ‘Sometimes it is hard to distinguish between the fact that they are independent schools and largely independent of governance and the fact that they have more resources because they can
charge fees,’ says Barnaby Lenon, Chair of the Independent Schools Council and former headmaster of Harrow adding, ‘I once asked the government if a state school, where I was chair of governors, could take overseas pupils and charge fees, but they said no. They don’t have the flexibility.’ It’s that flexibility that has enabled independent schools to move swiftly to provide the online learning which allowed pupils to shine academically this year. It manifests in many ways in its ability to adapt to what parents want, be it single sex or co-educational learning or bringing in flexi and weekly boarding, and in its curricular and extra-curricular provision. Unlike state schools, independent schools are not required to publish their exam results in the newspapers’ league tables and many of the best schools don’t, points out Lenon. ‘It is not that they don’t believe in getting good results – they would be mad not to – but they take a broader view of education than
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many state schools are able to, partly because of their boarding history. Even though many more are now day schools, they still carve out far more time for co-curricular activities like sports, drama, music and art.’ The independent sector’s exceptional provision of the extra-curricular attracts pupils from all over the world, and is demonstrated in its sport – 65 medals won at the Olympics this summer – in art and theatre, music, as well as its pastoral care and topically, its IT provision. Repton, a co-ed day and boarding school in Derbyshire, has been a Microsoft Showcase for years winning numerous awards for its online learning. ‘Our Education Business award for remote learning referenced the fact that our conception of online blended learning included a very significant consciousness of pastoral wellbeing,’ said Deputy Head James Wilton. When lockdown came, ‘we already used technology to deliver the curriculum so were freed from the stress of converting to online digital teaching and could prioritise pupil wellbeing.’ Like many other independent schools, Repton took their online teaching beyond the academic to include online chapel services, sports coaching, collaborative musical ensembles and pastoral check-ins. Using AI and a technological package called Affective Social Tracking they have developed a Wellworks programme to detect hidden stresses in pupils. Pastoral care has in some ways been the thorn and the rose of independent school education. No-one can be unaware of the occasional, much-dreaded press stories of abusive teachers or bullying. Earlier this year, the Everyone’s Invited revelations forced more than one high profile senior school to move with alacrity to address accusations of sexual abuse and misogyny among their pupils. Even Lenon acknowledges the ‘very beneficial effect’ on independent schools of the DfE’s Independent School Inspectorate (ISI) in greatly increasing the focus on safe-
guarding and child protection. ‘You can say that that’s undermining independence,’ he says, ‘but these ISI Inspections don’t drive what happens in our schools and are a very good thing as long as their requirements don’t become too closely defined by any one particular government.’ Across the board, pastoral care is provided to an exceptionally high standard, as new styles of governance over the past 20 years drove out crusty, out-dated attitudes. Sixteen years ago, ‘happy clappy’ became ‘happy’ classes at Wellington College, Berkshire, a co-educational senior boarding and day school then under the custodianship of its transformative headmaster Sir Anthony Seldon. Unhampered by the restrictions of the state system which requires all its teachers to have teaching qualifications, he was able to employ exceptional people on merit alone. As PSHE co-ordinator, Ian Morris, author of Learning to Ride Elephants, worked with Nick Baylis, then a researcher at The Wellbeing Institute at Cambridge, to write Wellington’s first Happiness and Wellbeing programme. The vision of 400 pupils head’s bowed in Wellington’s Chapel practising meditation and mindfulness will resonate with many people today but at the time it was visionary and ground-breaking. ‘That proactive teaching and awareness of positive psychology and thinking in how to equip pupils with the skills to cope rather than mopping things up when things go wrong is one of the more important contributions made to education in the last 15 years,’ says James Dahl, the current head of Wellington, referring to the crisis of anxiety, depression and disordered eating among school-aged children. Dahl acknowledges Seldon’s legacy not just in his pastoral care but in his passion to change the way schools teach, throwing out the old 19th century industrial sausage-making factory approach, adopting instead the Harkness style, a flipped classroom approach where pupils prep for the lesson and come to the class as an active participant sitting shoulder-to-shoulder with their teacher who facilitates and guides critical thought and debate around an oval table. He is the first to acknowledge that this informal collaborative style works best for the smaller classes of independent schools but believes there is more change in the offing. ‘The independent sector is pejoratively described as an engine of privilege, but it is also a wonderful engine for change, for innovation and enterprise. We have the freedom to take risks and drive the education agenda forward which doesn’t exist in the state sector.’ He cites, for example, the ability of the independent sector to question the status quo and devise exciting alternatives to GCSEs like the Sevenoaks diploma, Bedales Assessed Courses (BACS) and in Oxford, St Edwards School’s Pathways and Perspectives. ‘Exam-taking is a significant issue and you could sense the momentum of change at the HMC conference last year,’ says Dahl. There was ‘a real sense that the worm had turned’ with more traditional schools like Eton and St Paul’s questioning the purpose of GCSEs. ‘It was no longer a few wacky schools at the edge but a broad coalition who want to imagine an education of the future.’ Alastair Chirnside, the new Warden of St Edward’s, affectionately known as Teddies, a 50:50 A-level/IB school with a broad intake, agrees, pointing out that even Lord Baker, the Off to explore at Education Secretary who introduced GCSEs is Wellington College, Berkshire now saying that they are redundant with too much Autumn/Winter 2021 | SCHOOLHOUSEMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 67
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EDUCATION
Beautiful setting to practise a play at Bedales in Hampshire
content and too few skills for the future. His predecessor, Stephen Jones, really is the equivalent of an A-level and that with employers in design, engineering and other vocational careers crying out for applicants, it introduced the new Pathways and Perspectives accredited by Buckingham makes sense to look again. University which has enabled Teddies to scrap all but the core GCSEs ‘BTECs finally allowed pupils to acquire valued skills and knowledge and offer pupils two or three options on subjects fit for purpose in a 21st century workplace. Part of the process involved consulting universities and have this learning properly recognised,’ says John Floyd, headmaster who ‘welcomed the emphasis on a broader range of skills which they of Bruern Abbey, a stone’s throw from Bicester village, and the only prep said would better prepare pupils for university study,’ said Chirnside. school in the country with the proud remit of taking boys with dyslexia and It is this work with universities and an emphasis on research which has preparing them for common entrance into mainstream, senior schools including Winchester, Charterhouse, Eton and Stowe, as well as Milton defined the success stories of many schools. Whether its Gordonstoun in the Scottish Highlands working with Edinburgh to design a curriculum Abbey. With tiny classes, little homework and a sensitive school week ending promoting ‘confidence, at 5pm on a Friday with buses teamwork and resilience’ or depositing tired boys back Bedales in Hampshire, which into London for the weekend, was founded in 1893 as an Bruern is a glorious multi-trick ‘humane alternative’ to latepony. ‘In the state sector, we Victorian authoritarianism would have had to either ‘to encourage questioning, have been a special school or divergent thinking and mainstream but the wonderful the freedom to learn from thing about independence is mistakes.’ Bedales worked with that we can take the best of Harvard when introducing both and mix them together their BACs on subjects like to make Bruern. We can Global Awareness and Design massively overload on English – Product and Fashion. Digital and maths, and drop some of James Dahl, headmaster of Wellington the peripheral subjects.’ Game Design was introduced in 2019 and a year later they put In the same vein, next back the start of the school day to 9:45am following research into the September they are launching a senior school for Years 9 to 11, for circadian sleeping patterns of teenagers. boys with dyslexia and dyspraxia, in what is another black mark against the middle school system. ‘GCSEs are more content heavy and getting Bedales’ current headmaster Magnus Bashaarat was previously harder.’ Many schools, says Floyd, won’t take his boys because ‘they don’t head of Milton Abbey, an individual school known for taking a want the responsibility of those exams.’ Bruen Abbey Senior in Chiltern, disproportionate number of pupils with learning difficulties and winning Pearson’s BTEC School of the Year award in 2019. Bashaarat Buckinghamshire will ‘shamelessly focus on our specialism, getting them brought in household names, like Boden, Anya Hindmarch and through those difficult years as well as possible so that they can access the Charlie Bigham as entrepreneurs-in-residence to his BTEC course on best of the sixth form.’ Enterprise and Entrepreneurship. The vocational learning associated Floyd illustrates the intelligent practicality which I have seen time with BTECs has always been a sensitive issue for parents who, to quote and again in the independent sector. Men and women committed to Bashaarat, ‘consider these a path for hairdressers and plumbers’, educating the next generation without compromise but with the ability to bend and move with the times. Demonstrating the alacrity with which and have failed yet to understand that for many universities, a BTEC
‘The independent sector is pejoratively described as an engine of privilege, but it is also a wonderful engine for change, for innovation and enterprise. We have the freedom to take risks and drive the education agenda forward which doesn’t exist in the state sector.’
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Repton, Derbyshire
Malaysia, and China. Harrow, Dulwich College, Marlborough and many the independent sector can move to supply a demand, London has just seen the opening of its first hybrid school. Portland Place School is more have set up schools all over the world which fund bursaries at home up providing online learning for pupils aged ten to 16, four days a week and to 100 per cent including uniform and foreign trips, as well as scholarships. on-site practical studies once a week for art, design technology, science Lenon once told me that his dream was to see every school place in and sport. With fees a third of most London day schools, its expanded England funded by income from foreign investment, and now says there catchment makes it available to families with lower incomes. are more children being educated by the independent sector overseas than Cynics will say that it’s because schools have to defend their charitable in this country which has additional benefits of shared communications, status, that 90 per cent of independent schools have reached out to pupil exchanges, wider net-working and positive international relationships. the state sector, offering up many more bursaries, working hard to be Critics of independent schools accuse them of being elitist and out of inclusive and to share their educational knowledge. The examples are touch, and certainly when Corbyn was leader of the Labour party there were broad and diverse. Eton has just announced it is setting up day schools in more than a few heads worrying about their loss of charitable status as well disadvantaged areas all over the as crippling business rates and north of England. Repton has teacher pensions. But Lenon an established partnership with sees the new threat coming the 36 school-strong Greenwood from the centralisation of Academies Trust in the government education policy. Midlands. St Edward’s Beyond ‘Three-quarters of secondary Teddies uses its professionalschools are now academies standard theatre, The North run by multi-academy trusts Wall to offer work experience to accountable to Central state school pupils. James Allen’s Government so it has much Girls’ School (JAGS) in London more political capital invested has a strong commitment to in ensuring that state schools John Floyd, head of Bruern Abbey Prep and Senior offering bursaries and ‘in do as well as, if not better, than certain circumstances, will offer independent schools than it state school students from partner state schools the opportunity to study did at any time in the past 500 years. So independent schools have got to Latin, computer science and history of art A-levels,’ says headmistress Alex fight for their independence and not feel that they have to always do what Hutchinson who last year held JAGS’ third Understanding Mental health the government says or wants.’ within Schools conference in collaboration with the NHS for colleagues It’s a timely reminder which is unlikely to fall on deaf ears among from state and independent schools and the wider community. the talented and determined heads famed for championing educational Of course, their charitable status is a significant part of the story innovation and leading the way in the educational sector for the ultimate but as fees escalated, schools recognised that, ‘to be accessible only to benefit of all, not just at home but in global perception. As Hutchinson the wealthiest parents was not good for pupils in the schools as well as says, ‘the essence of independence is the ease with which we can keep being not a good thing politically,’ says Lenon, who oversaw the opening focused on a complete education, in and out of the classroom, in of a state school by six independent schools in Newham in 2012 which curricular, co-curricular and super-curricular enrichment. It allows us transformed the borough and this year sent thirty pupils to Oxbridge. to be nimble and responsive, and means we can constantly tweak, review To finance bursaries, independent schools have opened up schools and redesign the opportunities for young people. Real life doesn’t stand all over the world. Repton now has seven schools in the UEA, Egypt, still, and nor should schools.’
‘In the state sector we would have had to either have been a special school or mainstream but the wonderful thing about independence is that we can take the best of both and mix them together to make Bruern’
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A CALL TO ARMS FOCUS ON
Medics, engineers and cyber geeks are the armies of today’s frontline and we need more of them as the pace of change accelerates, say professionals and educationalists
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THE JOURNALIST
BR AVE NEW WORLD
Victoria Lambert considers how schools are preparing pupils for a workplace barely conceived
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ne of the greatest lessons we have learnt in the past months has been how the modern world is presenting new challenges for humanity. From pandemics like Covid-19 – so easily spread thanks to international trade and mass tourism – to new challenges brought about by climate change, from wild fires to flooding. Meanwhile, there are exciting opportunities too. Look at the dynamism of entrepreneurs such as Elon Musk with his vision for space travel or Jeff Bezos, whose $10 billion Earth Fund has been set up to invest in the environmental sector. No wonder our children no longer aspire to the old traditional careers. Why be an accountant or a fire fighter when you can become an astronaut or an activist? And those are not pipe dreams; to take on the challenges of this century, there are calls for 21st-century armies, consisting of engineers and medics, scientists and cyber geeks. US universities are already expanding existing courses to cover not just space science and engineering but also space entrepreneurship, management and law. According to global accountants, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), in its recent Workforce of the Future report, almost half of us (47 per cent) think that traditional employment will not be around by 2030 and instead, we will all have our own personal ‘brands’, selling our skills to those who need them. The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2020 confirms that the most in-demand occupations or specialties did not exist 10 or even five years ago, and warns the pace of change is set to accelerate. It quotes the ‘Shift Happens’ theory that 65 per cent of children entering primary school today will ultimately end up working in completely new
job types that don’t yet exist. Fortunately, for pupils educated in independent schools, these schools have always been able to offer flexibility in a wide range of subjects, expertise and experience. So how and where is that vision being expressed? At St Paul’s School, West London, a dedicated Careers and Universities department exists to prepare pupils for the next steps in their education. The world of work has always been a priority for the school. Head of Careers, Rebecca McGreevy explains: ‘We have established a new student-led careers society which aims to demystify industries and Getting fired up at career routes by hosting weekly Badminton School, Bristol ‘career conversation’ events. These informal events invite school community members to speak about their career pathways and their views on the future of their work.’ Rebecca Tear, Headmistress at Badminton School in Bristol says her students are already going on to a wide range of university choices: from Film Making to Medicine, Architecture to Marketing and Neuroscience to Economics. ‘Entrepreneurship is something that students are keen to engage with,’ says Tear. ‘From our Year 7 and 8 entering our Student Initiative Fund competition to win seed funding for their project through to taking part in the national Tycoon Enterprise Challenge where they create a business plan, manufacture a product and bring it to market.’ A Badminton team called The Citrus Way won overall in 2020. At St Catherine’s School Bramley, Headmistress Alice Phillips explains that students are exposed to the continuous developments across many disciplines and career sectors. ‘As well as careers events and lessons,’ Phillips says, ‘academic departments highlight new developments and applications of these.’ The Design and Technology classes, for example, explore uses for exciting new materials and IT students attend the annual Teen Tech event to see how technological change is impacting on business products and processes. Sixth form Economists recently attended the annual Royal Economics Society Lecture which this year focused on Digital Disruption and scientists learn about advances in pharmaceutical development, a significant topic at this time especially. ‘By recognising that change is normal we encourage a growth mindset. As a result, the changing world of work becomes an exciting opportunity, not something to be feared,’ explains Phillips. At Badminton, future career building skills also begin early: ‘We start in our Junior school, working with students to identify their character strengths and how they inform their ways of working and communicating. In the Senior School, we then build through our own Badminton Baccalaureate which focuses on activities and skills beyond the classroom, encouraging pupils to explore opportunities and get practically involved to appreciate how skills can be applied, how classroom knowledge can support real life applications and to explore a range of fields to see if they are of interest to the individual.’ Additionally, says Tear, the school also follows the A-level Mindset course known as VESPA which helps students establish different ways of thinking. ‘Students are encouraged to think about Vision (motivation), Effort, Systems (organisation), Practice and Attitude.’ With so many unknowns, which subjects will dominate A-level choices? The sciences plus computer science will be important, says Ed Elliott, Head of The Perse School, Cambridge, ‘as they have been for many decades. Autumn/Winter 2021 | SCHOOLHOUSEMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 73
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Hopefully, the amazing success of Covid vaccines from concept to delivery in less than a year will inspire children to study science – as success here can self-evidently make the world better and save lives.’ What about those young people who excel in the arts and humanities, though. Will they be left behind? ‘Not at all,’ says Elliott. ‘In an increasingly digitised and automated future, the jobs of tomorrow will be jobs that humans can do better than machines. These are roles that will have large creative and original components, or where skilled judgements are needed, or where emotional intelligence and the ability to read other humans and their feelings are key. ‘So, subjects like art and music will be important as these creative disciplines are not easily automated. Some educational tasks such as marking may be automated, but teaching will always require humans to get the best out of other humans.’ Alice Phillips agrees, adding: ‘languages will always be important but not just as evidence of linguistic ability. When studying languages at A-level and at university, the focus is on understanding the culture as much as the language. Within the world of business, it is widely recognised that cultural understanding is key to building internal and external relationships in order to achieve long term competitiveness and success.’ Overall, what may matter most is breadth of learning. At St Paul’s, there is a focus on skills which are transferable across any industry or career such as teamwork, communication, creativity, self-awareness, resilience and flexibility/adaptability, says Rebecca McGreevy. ‘The careers department collaborates with subject departments, wider societies and co-curricular activities,’ she says, ‘to ensure students can connect their experiences at school to possible future pathways.’ The school has an established entrepreneurship programme which includes a business incubator programme, ‘Start it PRO’, which this year has enrolled and funded two student start-ups, Armago and Fygo, as part of the commitment of St Paul’s to supporting those who choose non-linear career paths. Ed Elliott adds: ‘As in the past, so in the future it is important that we
educate children in a broad range of skills and knowledge. Children must also study history in order to gain perspective and better understanding.’ Rebecca Tear points out: ‘We cannot know the whole future. What has become crystal clear is that skills are what will give agency in the future. I set great store by communication and creativity, plus also coaching - the willingness to be reflective, seek feedback and to do the same for others.’ This ability to iterate to improve is a quintessential entrepreneurial tool, she points out. ‘The willingness to build and develop enables success.’ Phillips sees the skills of greatest benefit as those ‘which equip our students to harness the change such as problem solving, innovation and adaptability. They need to be ready at all times for change and not afraid of it.’ So where does this leave specific careers advice? ‘Rather than thinking in the abstract,’ says Elliott, ‘it is vital to think relatively and match person to job type. Success and happiness occur when you have round pegs in round holes, and young people embark on career paths that play to their strengths, qualities and interests.’ And where can parents fit in? Rebecca McGreevy says, ‘our alumni and parent networks are important to us in providing advice and speakers for our pupils to showcase a variety of industry sectors. We also have St Paul’s Connect which allows members of the community to connect professionally and find mentors.’ At St Catherine’s, parent body and all alumnae are combined into the St Catherine’s Association giving one network providing access to those at all career stages. ‘The younger alumnae, who are at university or taking first steps into careers,’ says Phillips, ‘can and do provide useful insight into the latest developments. However, it would be a folly to write off our parents, many of whom are in senior positions within innovative organisations.’ She adds: ‘Our overall aim as a school is to send our girls out with confidence that they can face any challenges or innovation in the world of work, and view change as an exciting opportunity, not a threat.’
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In the tech box at St Catherine’s, Bramley in Surrey
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health on the ground including outbreaks of diarrhoea or the epidemiology of a Covid pandemic (looking at how to stop disease spreading and monitoring its path), to histopathology (looking at diseased tissue), forensics, to seeing patients directly for conditions of the skin (dermatology), joints (rheumatology) and more, through to being a trauma surgeon and the things people tend to see more on telly, the whizz bang, sharp Polymath Hugh Montgomery, who is Professor of knives, blood everywhere, bombs going off etc. The list is endless: genome sequencing and understanding Intensive Care Medicine at University College ethno-genetics, how to gene edit or treat cancers or London, explains why doctors are key to a better life apply AI to mathematical models. And then there is the more intuitive side of things, holding someone’s hand as they die in a hospice or telling a person or their family that they have a terminal disease. These things are chalk and cheese but are all medicine and all need doctors. Working in an intensive care unit, I am at the spangly side of medicine with machines that go ping, lots of money and drama. It’s the stuff of TV series. Ultimately, however, health care is societal. Most of what I have on my ICU would go away completely if society were structured differently. We have a public health issue. Most people don’t think of this as being about medicine but there is a disconnect. Half of all cancers as well as 89 per cent of cardiovascular disease in this country is entirely preventable by good social policy. Professor Sir Michael Marmot’s research on social health reveals how inequity and poverty are colossally bad for health; currently, there is a 12-year Ready for surgery? disparity in life-expectancy from the richest to the poorest of the land. f there is one thing we have learned from the We need the right taxation policies to make it harder to eat rubbish pandemic, it’s the importance of medicine, and cheaper to eat healthy food. We need to make it easy, no matter what your level of wealth, to walk or cycle. If you are poor and a single technology and collaboration between scientists in fighting and managing disease as one challenge mum today, you probably can’t afford a bike and if you had one it would follows another. The rapid development and most likely get stolen, and there’s nowhere safe to take your kids anyway. roll-out of a properly tested, working vaccine in Address those issues and other miscreant behaviours would fall away: humans in less than eight months was nothing less alcoholism, cigarette and drug addiction, lack of exercise, poor diet, than extraordinary and owed much to ongoing work obesity, diabetes and associated illnesses. The same things which make in laboratories here and in America. people physically healthier, also improve their mental health. Access to Oxford had long been working on their ChAdOx1 type approach to green and blue spaces, exercising together, planting trees and a bit of a design a vaccine against malaria. Pfizer had been working on the concept digging is good for everyone. It keeps the air clean and helps mitigate climate change. of RNA vaccines for many years. So when SARS-CoV-2 hit, they were in pole position to say, ‘right, we have got a method here. Let’s get on with it.’ There is a whole raft of things you can do with a good medical degree It’s an exciting time with big changes in vaccine technology because as and good training. I was invited on an expedition to Greenland to look at one challenge is met, another presents itself. Now we have to stay ahead of the implications of climate change on health – not many people get to do the curve on vaccinations for variants which will show up. Recent research that. NASA needs doctors for space crews, so do the military for expedition on the gut found that half the cases in an admittedly small study still had work and exercise training, as do oil rigs and cruise ships, you name it. People are in occupational health all over the place and we need more. replicating virus four months after infection – and those viruses mutate The nub is to find the thing which enriches you and enriches other over time. Nature always finds a way. We are not safe until everyone is safe. people and to ask yourself what will bring you joy in 40 years’ time so The next challenge will be finding a vaccine providing immunity that you can look back and say ‘I really feel I helped people and made to ‘all’ coronaviruses. That’s a big change from where we are now with a difference’ as opposed to ‘I got richer’. There’s that saying, ‘no one vaccines against one specific virus or variant of a virus. Like all vaccines, on their death bed said I wish I had spent more time at work’. But I see that requires work from mathematicians, engineers capable of making exactly the opposite. I see people who say ‘I wish I had worked harder. I refrigerators and glass ampoules, virologists, geneticists, epidemiologists, wish I had done something more valuable with my life’. Medicine gives and statisticians. And that is just one tiny part of medicine. you that opportunity, and that’s when the fun starts. The range of things you can do in medicine is extraordinary. From public THE MEDIC
SAFEGUARDING OUR FUTURE
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THE ENGINEER
SEE IT AND BELIEVE IT I’m an engineer, get me out of here says Kate Bellingham
PHOTOS: SHUTTERSTOCK
It is many years since I took my baby for an important scan, but I can still remember the relief and gratitude I felt to everyone involved: the consultant who explained that the scan was clear; the radiographer who performed the scan; and as an engineer, I recognised my debt to the people who designed and manufactured the scanner itself. Those responsible for that amazing piece of engineering, and all the associated computer systems available to medical staff, have directly influenced the life chances of many patients. Engineering work frequently goes unobserved. In fact, creating things that make our lives easier without us even noticing is often an engineer’s badge of success. You have heard of the Oscars and the Nobel prizes, but what about the MacRoberts? Each year, the Royal Academy of Engineering MacRobert Award is presented to teams responsible for UK’s most impressive engineering innovations including this year a company who design and manufacture tiny hi-tech surgical tools which allow ultra-targeted minimal invasive procedures. Who knows how many lives they will change or save in the future? According to 2020 research, the top career aspirations for teens in the UK are doctor, social media influencer, YouTuber, vet and teacher. With some pioneering exceptions, this list brings to mind the phrase ‘you can’t be what you can’t see’ – these roles feel familiar to young people today which is why I’m such a fan of initiatives like ‘I’m an Engineer, get me out of here’ – an online STEM activity which connects school students with engineers through real-time text chats. Vikas, for example, is a control engineer designing processes to decompose nuclear waste; aerospace engineer Nastasya works to reduce the environmental impact of aircraft; Steve, a lighting design engineer is researching Smart Cities; Krishnaa is investigating innovative ways to freeze cells, tissues and organs for transplants and Khaled works on robotic submarines collecting data from the ocean for scientific research. Viewers are being introduced to a wealth of opportunities by meeting real people, instead of reading an impersonal list of engineering sectors. Looking through the UN sustainable development goals, my reaction was, ‘there’s an engineer for that.’ While in some cases the connection is obvious, such as ‘clean water and sanitation’, the 17 videos on the Royal Academy of Engineering website are a reminder of how the many facets of engineering have a role to play in the future of the planet. Having been a presenter on the TV programme Tomorrow’s World, I still get asked during school visits to make predictions about the future of science and tech. My response is to encourage the today’s young people to create the future they want to see. And that’s what engineering can do. ENGINEERING INCENTIVES www.raeng.org.uk/grants-prizes/prizes/prizesand-medals/awards/the-macrobert-awardengineering-innovation www.statista.com/statistics/1110790/ career-aspirations-of-uk-teens/ www.imanengineer.org.uk www.raeng.org.uk/global/ sustainable-development-goals
Sir James Dyson
THE DESIGN ENGINEER
THE CUTTING EDGE OF DYSON DESIGN
Professor Peter Childs explains why he founded the Dyson School of Design Engineering at Imperial College, London
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n 2002, Sir James Dyson predicted that by 2020, British firms would be short of one million engineers, which would severely affect how the country handles upcoming challenges. Sadly his prognosis came true; a shortage of 1.8 million is now predicted by 2025. The problem, said Sir James, required us ‘not only to encourage more young people into engineering, but to make sure they are empowered to be creative, innovative and clever in their work.’ It is not just a national issue but a global one: ‘the world needs more engineers to solve global challenges such as climate change, pollution, clean water, health, and food security, and engineers who are able to embrace the transformations happening across the world,’ said the Dean of our faculty of Engineering Prof. Nigel Brandon at about the same time. And so, the challenge was laid down, and we accepted. We are working to address this issue and there is hope. In 2014, with the help of funding by Sir James’ charitable foundation, the Dyson School of Design Engineering at Imperial College, London was conceived. With 7000m2 state-ofthe-art facilities its vision is to facilitate a fusion between design thinking, engineering thinking and practice within a culture of innovation and enterprise. In addition to the integrated MEng and postgraduate masters programmes, the school undertakes state-of-the-art research into a range of contemporary and futures-orientated topics as well as development projects. Design is a fun subject involving the development of exciting ideas but it is also deliberate and we take it seriously. It involves exploring and experimentation, considering the
needs of stakeholders, customers and users of a service as well as those involved in maintenance, ensuring that it delivers the intended technical, aesthetic, social and economic functions, considering each detail and also the wider societal implications such as sustainability. To provide graduates with the necessary skills to undertake design engineering at the leading edge of the domain we developed an integrated MEng degree in Design Engineering, combining elements of both a bachelors and a masters within a single programme which can be accredited by one or more of the engineering institutions providing a pathway towards chartered status. We also offer a postgraduate level double masters in Innovation Design Engineering and Global Innovation Design. To date all the degrees in the school have been associated with even gender balances with recruitment based on merit. The curriculum and associated environment and resources fosters learning and upskilling, involving the development of fundamental cyberphysical, mathematics, materials and integrated design engineering skills through projects and team work. During their training, students will build a phone-controlled robot, design and build a gizmo, work in teams to undertake a more substantive example of product design and on a futures orientated project and undertake a six month placement in companies such as Microsoft, Apple, Rolls-Royce and Dyson as well as exciting start-ups and smaller companies such as Q-Bot and Rheon. Students complete their studies with a contemporary solo project with a purpose, helping build a student’s portfolio and skill set for their CV. This is the world of contemporary design engineering and we look forward to welcoming you.
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ABOVE& BELOW: Space Studio students visit NASA; getting stuck in with the simulators
THE EDUCATIONALIST
STARS IN THEIR EYES
Andy Morgan, the principal of Space Studio West London is passionate about educating students in STEM
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cience is key to safe-guarding our future but ten years ago, Steve and Paula Kenning, headteachers with strong links to employers in the fields of engineering and space, recognised a growing STEM skills shortage in these professions in the UK and founded Aspirations Academies Trust, which now has 16 schools, including three which are specifically STEM focused. One of these schools, the Space Studio West London (SSWL), opened its doors in September 2015 for teenagers aged 14 to 18 along the M4 corridor, which is recognised as a major high-technology hub. The name reflects the STEM ethos of the school and the focus on space, aerospace and engineering. The curriculum design is project-based, harking back to the teaching model of apprenticeships and learning from experts. Collaboration and technology are key skills in the 21st century workplace as we saw in the rollout of the Covid-19 vaccine so we underpin our lessons with teamwork and students can work with local employers in the sectors of aerospace, science and technology, including Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd., British Airways, BP, Heathrow, the National Space Academy and the National Physical Laboratory. The aim is to nurture and inspire the engineers, scientists, inventors, entrepreneurs and aerospace experts of tomorrow’s world. Our Year 12 students are also invited to join an annual trip to NASA, the frontier of space exploration; the ten-day trip to the United States includes behind-
the-scenes visits to Johnson and Kennedy Space Centers. The core of the school’s success lies in its three guiding principles: Self-worth, Purpose, & Engagement which underpins all 16 schools. In addition to SSWL, we have a second STEM-focused studio school the Futures Institute in Banbury. Livingstone Academy Bournemouth, our first digital academy with a STEAM focus, launched this September. It is the brainchild of Ian Livingstone CBE, co-founder of Games Workshop. As with all academies, we are not selective, nor fee-paying. It’s not about being the most gifted scientist but about having a passion, curiosity and enthusiasm for engineering or science. Our students are attracted by SSWL’s specialisms and with small classrooms, we can focus on a personalised approach where everyone is treated as an individual and you don’t have to conform. The school has been a huge success. In our fifth year, our GCSE results were the best ever and our A-level students have been offered places at Russell Group universities and Cambridge. One of our bright students recently won the ‘Most Ambitious’ project award in TEDI-London’s Thinking Ahead: Light Up! programme. Suvarunika Thirumaran used popular video game Minecraft to design a community building centred around helping those living with dementia. Her project is testament to the work we do at SSWL. I have every confidence future Microsofts and Amazons will be germinated in this school alongside the scientists and engineers who continue to make breakthroughs that benefit mankind.
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A BRIGHTER FUTURE Katharine Woodcock, Headmistress of Sydenham High School GDST, takes the positives from the pandemic
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s we head towards what we hope is the light at the end of what has sometimes been an extremely dark tunnel and into a new world that reflects some kind of normalcy, we have to be thankful for what this time has taught us. The importance of community, values and caring for one another. The new ways in which we have adapted and evolved. The technology at the forefront of much of what we do, balanced with a deeper focus on mindfulness and staying active away from devices. The innovative teaching and more efficient working practices which have meant that ahead of the new term in September, the school and its pupils are perhaps in a better position to thrive than ever before. As it stands, our pupils have the best chance in nearly two years of having an uninterrupted year of learning and being around their peers. Mental health has become a bigger priority across the board and we welcome famous athletes role-modelling the importance of mental fitness alongside physical health which is something we have long heralded. Though moving towards familiar behaviours and routines at the end of last term helped to provide stability, the necessary adaptability required by the pandemic has fostered key skills of resilience and problem-solving which will stand pupils in good stead for the future.
If another lockdown occurs, our pupils are now well equipped to deal with and overcome the implications that accompany that. The foundations of wellbeing at Sydenham High come from the three pillars of Body, Mind and Soul. Interwoven into all we strive to achieve for the wellbeing of our whole community, when the pandemic hit, we used these pillars to ensure that we were truly looking after our mental and physical health by adapting our co-curricular programme so that it could be just as beneficial in the home environment as it is at school. Another positive change brought about by the pandemic is the transition to and embracing of digital processes. Teachers have been creative and designed innovative solutions to provide outstanding learning despite the constraints of remote teaching. The virtual experiences of the school site have also provided a new perspective for visitors. These are things that we can assess, adjust and take forward into the new academic year and beyond. Throughout the peak of the pandemic our pupils learned a vital lesson: ‘keep finding joy in small things and remember for every negative situation, if you look hard enough, you can always find a positive!’ It’s been said countless times but the past 18 months have not been easy for any of us, especially not for the children whose learning and childhoods have been interrupted. But now is the time to look forward. Now is the time to roll up our sleeves and get back to work, building something better than what came before. The summer holidays provided a time for rest, relaxation and reflection and enabled all facets of the school to be able to go full steam ahead come September. The new term brings with it something of a new beginning and here at Sydenham High School, we are more than ready for it.
SYDENHAM HIGH SCHOOL is part of the Girls’ Day School Trust, a family of 25 schools helping to shape the future of girls’ education. Discover more at open events throughout the autumn. admissions@syd.gdst.net; 020 8557 7004; sydenhamhigh school.gdst.net
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FOCUS
THE DEPUTY HEAD
ESPORTS ARE IN Andrew Murfin, Deputy Head, CoCurricular, and self-styled Minister of Fun at Bryanston is committed to changing peoples’ perception of eSports
Breaktime at St Mary’s School, Cambridge
THE HEADMISTRESS
BRIGHT SPARKS
Charlotte Avery, Headmistress of St Mary’s School, Cambridge ignites a passion for science in her girls
I
n 2019, the UK reached the milestone of having one million women working in STEM roles – an increase of more than 350,000 on 2009. Clearly, the working world is changing for the better but more needs to be done to encourage even more women into these roles. To have a real impact in STEM subjects, women need to compose around 30 per cent of the scientific workforce – a figure that the UK Government and other organisations are working hard to achieve. St Mary’s is 100 per cent behind this drive and we recognise the role we, as educators, have to play. Girls in single-sex schools are known to be more likely to study these subjects than in co-ed schools and St Mary’s is no exception. Science and Maths do attract high uptake at A-level, with many of our girls going on to read these subjects and the applied fields of medicine, engineering and biochemistry at university – but we don’t take that as a given. Located in Cambridge, at the heart of Silicon Fen, we are surrounded by worldleaders in science, biochemistry, mathematics and technology-based industries. Working collaboratively with such organisations, we offer our sixth form girls unique work placements. But our work starts much younger than that embedding a passion for science,
technology, engineering and maths in girls from the minute they start in reception. In our Junior School, STEM forms a key pillar of our curriculum with girls encouraged to code, engineer, explore, create and design. In addition, we offer a myriad of extra-curricular opportunities and we get our students to take part in the Youth STEMM Award scheme. We also offer scholarships to students who demonstrate excellence in these subjects. The last two years have turned the spotlight on the vital role STEM professionals play in the world. Following the emergence of COVID-19, a new generation now understands the impact that bioscientists, epidemiologists, vaccine developers, data scientists and medical device engineers can have on the lives of ordinary people. How can our girls fail to be inspired by the likes of Professor Sarah Gilbert, Catherine Green OBE, and Özlem Türeci – whose work on vaccines has quite literally changed all of our lives over the last eighteen months?! The onus is on us as teachers to nurture the vaccine developers, scientists, engineers and mathematicians of the future – for the good of society and the planet. We have a moral obligation to encourage them to aim high, follow their dreams and make a positive contribution to wider society – seizing opportunities in STEM or whatever career path they want to take.
When I joined Bryanston in 2020 I was asked at the interview, ‘how can we stop pupils gaming or watching Netflix at their desk?’, yet a year later our sixth form pupils were part of a schools’ eSports league, joining up with other schools like Millfield and Gordonstoun, to play fixtures in rocket league in the same way in which pupils meet up for sports fixtures! As an Xiennial, a micro-generation born to an analogue childhood yet a digital working life, I’m keen to embrace technology and, rather than see eSports as an unwelcome hobby, to try to change the myths around it. Esports encourages qualities such as critical and strategic thinking and collaborative teamwork and teaches pupils the importance of healthy competition. Fitness enhances performance, both in reaction times and concentration levels and so eventually we hope to treat our eSport team the same way we do our other top athletes by offering them bespoke training programmes. The benefits go far beyond the world of eSport. The attributes, skills and qualities that pupils gain are increasingly needed in academia and future professions. Whether that’s in engineering, medicine or the Forces, the use of technology is central. We want to encourage the wider Bryanston community to view eSports not as something for ‘nonsporty’ kids or simply a distraction, but an important vehicle for maximising our pupils’ future pathway. There’s also the obvious link to other areas of computer science such as programming or coding and, while there is no direct contribution towards A-level qualifications, there’s certainly accreditation via the CAS element of our IB programmes (both the Diploma and the Career-Related Programme), as well as the DofE qualification. The world of eSports is flourishing with professional teams, corporate sponsorship deals and spectator events selling out arenas, and it is no wonder. During lockdown the need to find more interactive and creative ways of completing athletic races and events was in greater demand as evidenced by the popularity of the virtual fitness industry. We absolutely see a future for inter-school competitions on Zwift, Peloton, Strava and other platforms and in the not-too-distant future we are looking to hold eSports conferences here at Bryanston, becoming a hub to enable gamers, schools and industry leaders to come together to discuss the future and compete. Despite concerns over the compulsive, immersive nature of gaming and, as with all professional sport, the potential encroachment of anti-social elements such as gambling and performance-enhancing drugs (and hacking) – all of which need management – we can’t deny that the popularity of eSports is in the ascendency. As investment of major organisations increases, it’s hard to argue that we won’t be talking about eSports breaking into the mainstream media… and schools’ cocurricular provision.
Autumn/Winter 2021 | SCHOOLHOUSEMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 81
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REGULARS
Dancers at St Edward’s School, Oxford
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EDITOR’S INTERVIEW
EDITOR TALKS TO… Prof. Sir Simon Baron-Cohen Annabel Heseltine meets the clinical psychologist who argues that society has been ignoring the vital contribution made to society by autistic people
Why did you write your book The Pattern Seekers? When I started
out in the 1980s as a teacher working with autistic children no one really knew much about autism or what to do with autistic kids. Psychoanalytical theories were still blaming autism on the home emotional climate and detection levels were so poor that autism was considered rare affecting only four in every 10,000 children. Today we know that about one to one and a half per cent of children are autistic which is about two in every prep school and it is now recognised as a biomedical disability with a strong genetic element. But the prognosis for these children as adults is still poor. Eighty-five per cent of them will be unemployed and that leads to poor mental health, depression and anxiety. I don’t think that’s inevitable. If we can change the way we understand autism and society is more flexible in making space for people who are different, there is no reason why an autistic kid should not end up perfectly happy. I started my research focussing on the traditional areas of autism; the difficulties with empathy and communication are covered in my book Zero Degrees of Empathy, but realised we were almost ignoring the areas of strength. The Pattern Seekers covers the other side of the story looking at the many things to celebrate in autistic people. How did you set out to change people’s attitude to autism? The
theory which we explored in The Pattern Seekers is that there is a circuit in the brain which is uniquely human and allows us to look for not just any kind of pattern but an ‘if and then’ pattern. If I take an object and I do something to it, then I get a particular outcome. This ‘generative invention’ concept can be applied to many areas; in music, maths and cooking for example. We don’t just invent once, we keep on doing it, whether it’s a simple thing like a coffee cup or Elon Musk who came out as being autistic earlier this year putting the Rover on Mars, or humans inventing vaccines. We are unstoppable inventors. In autism, this systemising gene is tuned up to a high level to spot those ‘if and then’ patterns. Why should we change the way we think about autism? We all
have autistic traits but most people are in the middle of the bell curve with an average number of autistic traits and that would be true for you and
me. Some people are above average with more traits. We asked 600,000 people to take our online questionnaire test – the autism spectrum quotient (AQ) – designed to measure autism and found that the people who worked in STEM had a higher AQ score on average than those who didn’t. Our research also discovered that people working in technological areas produced children more likely to be autistic, about 10 per cent, and that the genes for systemising overlap with the genes for autism. This changes the way we should see autism. If some of those autistic Prof. Sir Simon genes give rise to a talent in pattern Baron-Cohen recognition for example, we should see autistic people as having a mix of strengths, as well as challenges, who have played a very important role in human progress. How would this discovery impact on education policy? You only
get one chance at education. If schools are forcing square pegs into round holes a child is going to end up feeling that they don’t belong, that they are failing and can end up school refusing. It should not get to that stage. That’s a sign that we are not providing the right support or the right opportunities for everyone so we have got to figure out what has led to that and change it. Before they even go to school, we should be able to identify those kids leaning more towards systemising, specialists, and which kids are leaning more to empathy, generalists, and tailor the education system to their needs. The school curriculum which almost expects you to dip a toe into each subject and then move to another totally unrelated topic works for the majority, the generalists, but not for systemisers whose style of learning is to follow one topic in a narrow way, as deeply as they can. They are not going to accept a superficial answer to a question but will keep asking why, and looking for patterns, contradictions or rules and may put off by their school experience. In the history classroom, for example, they would probably just want to focus on one battle in a war, wanting to know every detail about a particular regiment; the names, the clothes, where they had come from what they were carrying so it’s a really narrow attention to detail. I think that should be encouraged. Take the autist Greta Thunberg as an example. I imagine she started with a very focussed aspect of the environment like carbon emissions, but then her knowledge
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Chocolate production at Harry Specters
mushroomed out to embrace the whole of climate and environmental science. It’s a different way of learning that you start off at a micro level and then slowly work outwards but it should be celebrated because if these children are allowed to follow their interests in this obsessional way it can lead to extremely valuable contributions. How can this translate into helping people with a high number of autistic traits move into employment? We need
other people might not have which are very useful. Security services might want to employ them for cracking codes or for spotting suspicious activity which is out of the norm. GCHQ is one example. Israel’s security division 9900 which actively employs autistic people is another. But there are other examples. I cite a study in my book showing how autistic people are actually better at spotting items which shouldn’t be there on airport x-ray machines. But there is probably no sector of employment where autistic people couldn’t shine given the opportunity. It could be working in a bicycle repair shop where each component in a bicycle has to be as effective as possibleor a bakery, following a recipe to the nth degree to make a better loaf of bread. Harry Specters is a chocolate-making company in Cambridgeshire which only employs autistic people, some of them have quite significant additional needs but they can follow a recipe to such a fine degree of detail. Their chocolates are outstanding and sell in Harrods for thirty quid a box. I really recommend them.
If some of those autistic genes give rise to a talent in pattern recognition for example, we should see autistic people as having a mix of strengths, as well as challenges, who have played a very important part in the role of human progress
to move the needle on supporting autistic people in jobs because unemployment is bad for your mental health, it excludes people from society. So if we are trying to increase inclusion, employment is the fast track solution and for that to happen we need more understanding and acceptance that people are different and perhaps to remove some of the stigma. I have been impressed by the growing awareness around neurodiversity – the idea that we don’t all have the same type of brain – especially by employers who are now asking for training in neurodiversity awareness. Just because someone doesn’t look you in the eye or isn’t very chatty doesn’t mean that they are not very good at the job you are asking them to do. A German company Auticon (autisticconsultants), which is now in half a dozen countries including the UK, only hires autistic people, offering them jobs for life as consultants, mostly in the IT sector and supporting them when they are hiring out their services to banks and other corporate clients. Are there specific areas where autistic people can excel? Autistic people are highly tuned systemisers with talents
Simon Baron-Cohen is Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry at the University of Cambridge and Director of its Autism Research Centre (ARC). The Autism Centre of Excellence (ACE) charity is being launched this month to accelerate autism research and to translate this into evidence-based support services, including addressing important issues such as more efficient diagnosis, education and employment opportunities for autistic people. For more information please contact info@autismcentreofexcellence.org. Autumn/Winter 2021 | SCHOOLHOUSEMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 85
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SCHOOL HOUSE PARTNERSHIP
SUCCESS THROUGH BILINGUALISM Lycée International de Londres Winston Churchill, is the first choice for international families in London
W
ith 100 per cent success in all exams and graduates admitted to the most prestigious universities in the world, Lycée International de Londres Winston Churchill offers a perfect balance between academia and innovation. Its guiding philosophy places the needs of each child at the heart of the educational experience, welcoming every student into a dynamic and caring international community. The school’s IB Diploma average grade is 35.8/45, well above the world average of 33.02/45. 88 per cent of its
French Baccalaureat students passed with honours, including 43 per cent with highest honours. The school received these messages: ‘We were thrilled by our daughter’s excellent results in the IB! She has met her conditions for her first choice and we are so happy for her.’ (LIL parent). ‘Thank you for your help throughout those two years for both my education and wellbeing!’ (LIL student). ‘Excellent results for our first cohort! They have set the bar high! Our students can be proud of what they have accomplished!’ (LIL teacher). Unlike local schools teaching in a
single language that can tie students to a national curriculum and restrict their future options, Lycée Churchill’s programmes open educational avenues. The school’s secondary education and student wellbeing has been classified as ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted, Britain’s educational standards office. Lycée Churchill is a co-educational independent non-selective bilingual school located on a leafy two-hectare campus in North London. The school has 850 students aged 3 to 18 and offers two bilingual programmes, both aiming to develop every child into a forwardthinking, principled, and joyful world citizen. Language immersion begins at 3 years old. Classes are taught jointly by native speakers of French and English, both present at all times — like two parents in a multilingual household. This more natural and organic approach to bilingualism is carried out by highly-trained early learning specialists in a nurturing, familylike environment. In the Primary section, instruction is half in English, half in French from Year 1/GSM to Year 6/CM2. Each class meets every day with French-speaking and Englishspeaking teachers, who coordinate as well with specialty teachers in subjects such as PE, language, and music. In Secondary, families choose between the French bilingual programme or an English-oriented track. The only constant is that education remains bilingual until the age of 18, steeped in the supportive atmosphere for which the Lycée is known. With students from 45 countries and teachers of 29 different nationalities, the Lycée offers an international environment where the cultural diversity of families encourages dialogue. Its modern teaching ethos combines traditional disciplines with initiative, exploration, critical thinking, teamwork, and personal development. Lycée Churchill takes advantage of the latest educational technologies, which are integrated into teaching and everyday school life. This solid digital foundation proved to be a major asset during the pandemic, when the Lycée pivoted seamlessly to online learning. The school now offers distanced education programmes and virtual classes for students joining our French programme, a boon for families who are moving between assignments or looking for quality education from a remote location. To book a private visit, write to admissions@lyceeinternational.london or visit the school’s website at www.lyceeinternational.london to register for one of our next virtual open days.
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COVER STORY
EDUCATION DETOX Judith Fremont-Barnes, head of Milton Abbey, calls for an overhaul of UK teaching styles
T
here has never been a more exciting time to be an educator. The pandemic has forced an explosion of innovation, necessitated creative problem-solving beyond our wildest dreams and seen communities rise up to meet challenges previously unimagined. The daily practice of teaching and learning, so often alarmingly squeezed out of national discourse, has been front and centre of mind. In our virtual common rooms and governors’ meetings, in our universities, government departments, and at your kitchen tables: how, why and what we learn, teach and assess have been dissected. Inequalities laid painfully bare, opportunities magnified. In their scramble to translate the curriculum online in March 2020, many educators had cause to question its relevance to the unpredictable, dynamic workscape of the immediate future. Employers have been crying out for the skills predicted five years ago by the Davos World Economic Forum Future of Jobs report as necessary to succeed in the 2020’s workplace. Creativity, complex problem-solving, negotiation, emotional intelligence, selfregulation, initiative, adaptability, the capacity to connect and collaborate: we aspire to all these for our children but traditional curriculum models have precious little time or space for growing such qualities. Critically, none of this is rewarded in the only measure we provide our children and their future employers: grades. Important as they are for opening doors, grades are not enough. Whether it’s a birth certificate, passport, their parents’ bank balance or their exam results sheet, we owe it to our students to ensure that they know that they are not defined by a piece of paper, nor that it gives them any guarantees. Just as concerning: the education that isn’t preparing our children for adult life, is breaking too many of them. We are putting young people, at the most sensitive time of their development, through a high challenge, high pressure environment of the sort at which most adults would quail. Too often, solutions are bolt-on. While I am sure there are intrinsic merits to baby yoga and mindfulness for teenagers, many interventions seem designed to protect children from environments that we recognise as toxic. Instead of looking for a magic fix, we as school leaders need to ensure that school is not toxic in the first place and that wellbeing is central.
To achieve optimal outcomes, we need to make our schools into optimal learning environments and ensure that learning is defined in terms of social as well as academic development. We need to acknowledge that, since all learn differently, we must teach differently. One size tends to fit none. No-one in their right mind would undergo surgery on the promise that ‘the treatment might work for some people’, so why would we educate that way? We need to trust teachers to use their expert knowledge of children Judith Fremont-Barnes to design individualised and holistic programmes which support, stretch and challenge not just some, but all, according to the unique needs of each. Our practice needs to be rooted in neuroscientific and educational research, ensuring that the psychology of performance and self-regulation are embedded in our schools. When, how and what we assess at all levels needs to be reframed: children need to be part of this conversation. Vocational options need parity with traditional academic choices, to unlock the vast swathe of intelligences in children not yet measured or developed. Character education must be a central focus in and beyond the classroom. High challenge is vital – ambition and aspiration must be part of every child’s school experience – but this can, and must, be achieved in a context of moderate pressure. All aspects of achievement and endeavour need to be given equal status and celebration – in sport, music, art, drama, entrepreneurship, social skills, idea generation and practical skills. And schools need to work closely in partnership with parents, enabling a dynamic progress during these challenging years of child and teenage development. Respect, for the self, for others and for the environment, is fundamental to the heart of every school. It’s only when our children can understand and be kind to themselves that they can lead fulfilling lives of service and contribution in a diverse and ever-changing world, ready to tackle the big challenges ahead for their generation. And there needs to be joy: without which, why? We are indeed at a critical moment, as the phoenix-esque education system starts to shake off its pandemic ashes. What a triumph if we can forge from its fires a system more relevant, more rigorous, more enjoyable, so that all our children can flourish.
The education that isn’t preparing our children for adult life, is breaking too many of them. We are putting young people, at the most sensitive time of their development, through a high challengehigh pressure environment of the sort at which most adults would quail
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There are young women in the UK that need our support. Between 11th – 17th October, everyone is coming together from all over the UK to raise money by hosting a Brilliant Breakfast. Just £5 can make all the difference. To get involved or host your own, visit www.thebrilliantbreakfast.co.uk Together we can start something brilliant
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INSIDE STORY
CONFESSIONS OF A DRAMA TEACHER David Aldred goes backstage at Teddies
O
ne of the great things about teaching drama is being in the empty space where anything can happen, and usually does. There is a wonderful thrill when it comes to improvisation. Sometimes a dark turn takes me by surprise, enabling us to explore serious issues lurking just beneath the surface. Teaching during the pandemic was challenging. Practical work was hampered by social distancing and we have had to adapt to virtual learning for long periods. But contrary to our expectations, this did not deter our pupils. More than ever have opted for drama next year, recognising perhaps that drama teaches the parts of you that other subjects cannot reach. Luckily for us at St Edward’s, Oxford, we teach drama in the North Wall theatre which has an incredible public programme and a national reputation. This proximity to professional theatre makers (including our own technical team) puts us on the cutting edge of school drama. St Edward’s new Pathways and Perspectives curriculum offering optional subjects in addition to core GCSEs has given us the freedom to design our own course so, instead of the drama GCSE, which didn’t tick enough boxes, our Drama Pathway allows pupils to develop as creative collaborators and to become performers, designers, writers and directors while enjoying the nourishing diet of theatre that the North Wall provides. The drama department is an eclectic bunch –‘kool’ Kat heads up co-curricular drama, Lauren is a tour de force, the dynamo of Lisa who heads up dance and Phoebe, our new ‘supergrad’ fresh from LAMDA; I’m the only male and it’s a privilege to work with these wonderful Queens of Drama. Our method of operations sets the tone for our pupils; we aim to be caring, collaborative and creative (three key words) although during the pandemic, flexibility (constantly changing plans), positivity (we can get through this) and perspective (it’s not life and death, it’s drama!) became the mantra. Never more so than during the November lockdown, when we were
one of very few schools and theatres to stage a play. Arthur Miller’s The Crucible was challenging with a limited cast rehearsing and performing under strict controls with social distancing, always aware that an outbreak of Covid could jeopardise everything. But the zeitgeist was well captured by the themes of The Crucible which were weirdly prescient: if ever there was a socially distant group of people, it was certainly the Puritans, who were David Aldred the last government in this country to close theatres and ban Christmas (it was strangely plausible nearly 400 years later). The performances were incredibly powerful and moving, but the abiding memory of that experience will be, for me, the rehearsal process and the amazing resilience, creativity and humour shown by the young cast of actors. Indeed, I am constantly reminded and inspired by the incredible power of drama to transform lives. A sixth form pupil once used a devised piece to express the grief she had gone through watching her father die from cancer two years before. She was well supported but nonetheless it was such a brave and emotionally mature thing for her to do. The audience, including me, was moved to tears by a scene in which she acted out the death of her character in a hospital bed. A senior colleague who had missed being by his own mother’s bed when she had died, found that the performance allowed him, at last, to forgive himself. It was a truly cathartic experience and a reminder of why I come to work every day. From the sublime to the ridiculous: a pupil once asked me, ‘Sir, do you have a prop fish I can borrow?’ (I discovered later he was planning to recreate that wellknown Monty Python sketch, the fish slapping dance). ‘Of course I do,’ I said; I mimed casting a fishing rod and after a struggle, pulled one in for him and said, ‘Is this one big enough for you?’ The lights flickered in his eyes, a lesson in imagination as well as the art of mime. Oh, what a joy and a privilege it is to be a drama teacher!
A sixth form pupil once used a devised piece to express the grief she had gone through watching her father die from cancer two years before. She was well supported but nonetheless, it was such a brave and emotionally mature thing for her to do.
David Aldred is Head of Academic Drama at St Edward’s School, affectionately known as Teddies Autumn/Winter 2021 | SCHOOLHOUSEMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 89
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Photo: Holly Morrison
CULTURAL APPRECIATION IS GOOD FOR YOU “… AHA has been the most fun course of my education.” Raph 2021 • Life enhancing courses about art and culture in Italy • For the summer holidays or a gap year • Study in Naples, Florence, Sicily, Rome and Venice • For students of every academic discipline • Study many of the masterpieces of Western Art first hand in small tutorial groups • Art and architecture from the ancient world, through the renaissance and the baroque and up to contemporary art
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TEEN SPIRIT
TALK ABOUT IT Georgia Hall, a recovering anorexic, is writing a blog to highlight the insidious nature of this serious mental health condition
M
y relationship with food has always been a weird one. I have always felt uncomfortable in my body and have learnt to see that food is the underlying reason. Yet it took a global pandemic, a nationwide lockdown, losing everything I had spent my school career working towards for that relationship to turn toxic and manifest itself into anorexia. Growing up, I always felt like one of the bigger, ‘curvier’ ones among my peer group. At school, however, I was so preoccupied by dance, music, academics and drama that I did not have the time, let alone the energy to fuel an eating disorder. However, when A-levels were cancelled I saw the perfect opportunity to get into shape and transform into the dream body I had always idolised. My drive ultimately came from an irrational hatred of my legs, which I now recognise to be body dysmorphia, and a longing to change them into a body part about which I do not feel such deep shame. There was no work, extra curricular activities or social commitments so it was the perfect moment. It started with an increased level of exercise and decreased consumption of food but spiralled pretty quickly when my daily happiness was reliant on seeing my weight on the scales go down. Before I knew it, I was trapped and unable to stop myself. I could not go a day without exercising, was deathly afraid of eating lunch and would forbid myself to go near any kind of enjoyable foods. The weight did drop, and fast, too fast for my body to keep up. My health deteriorated pretty rapidly and I was experiencing the very unglamorous and painful side of having an eating disorder that people know little about. I lost my period, my alopecia was triggered again, my thyroid became under-active, I had chronic constipation, my blood pressure dropped, I was constantly cold, my white blood cell count was deficient and I developed bradycardia and was warned by a
nurse that I could be stuck with a pacemaker at the age of 18. I know I have painted a pretty bleak picture but I was one of the lucky ones. I had the support of my family and friends and was able to veer off from the dangerous road I was heading down. My mum and dad were able to organise a consultation at an amazing in-day treatment facility in London and I began the process of recovery. In my three months of in-person treatment I learnt Georgia Hall’s of having ‘the dream’ so much about myself, from body led to a serious my thinking patterns to eating disorder relationships and understood what I truly value. Mantras such as ‘it is okay not to be okay’ and ‘emotions are like waves, you just have to ride them out and eventually they will pass’ are ones which I repeat to myself daily. I realised that I did not want to go back to my pre-eatingdisorder self as that person was not happy, she was the person who was in a position to develop an eating disorder. Although I am still very much in the process and am far from being fully recovered, I am no longer in a life threatening position. I get irregular periods again and my heart is no longer dangerously slow. My eating disorder was both my friend and enemy: it disconnected me from emotions which were too painful to deal with at the time but soon became a deathly addiction. Eating disorders thrive in silence and secrecy and that is why I hope to spark more conversations around disordered eating and society’s twisted perceptions of what ‘health’ is. So many people have suffered, are suffering and will suffer from this awful mental illness yet I believe through discussion and acceptance we might be able to come together as a society and lessen the pain for the generations to come.
Mantras such as ‘it is okay not to be okay’ and ‘emotions are like waves, you just have to ride them out and eventually they will pass’ are ones which I repeat to myself daily
Georgia Hall is heading off to Davidson College, North Carolina this Autumn. Georgia’s blog can be read online at georgiamchall.wixsite.com/ kickingoutkevin Autumn/Winter 2021 | SCHOOLHOUSEMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 91
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INTREPID EXPLORERS B E S T O F. . .
Isabella Mackay and Ruby Featherstone hunt out some brave adventurers ADAM BOOTH
Shrewsbury School, Shropshire
Old Salopian Adam Booth, 39, has now climbed Everest twice. Booth first made the famous journey in 2013 as expedition doctor on an expedition to mark the 60th anniversary of the first ascent by Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay. At school, Booth joined the Rovers mountaineering club to climb Ben Nevis and Picos de Europa in Spain, writing vivid reports of his adventures for the school’s magazine. Keen to continue their spirit of adventure, Shrewsbury School has just appointed a Head of Adventure tasked with developing this tradition further by offering new and more varied opportunities for the students. OTHER INTREPID ALUMNI:
PHOTOS: JOE STEVENS; SHUTTERSTOCK
Globe-trotting documentary maker, actor and public speaker Sir Michael Palin and Andrew Irvine, who famously died in the 1924 British Mount Everest Expedition with George Mallory.
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SHOWCASE ROSIE STANCER Heathfield School, Berkshire
Rosie Stancer, 61, is eagerly anticipating her next expedition crossing the Aralkum desert in Eastern Europe delayed since 2020. The intrepid veteran of both north and south pole discovery has skied 1,000km solo to the South Pole and travelled alone over the vast and frozen Atlantic Ocean for 84 days. After self-amputating two frostbitten toes she finally called it a day just shy of the North Pole fearful for her pilots landing on treacherous melting ice. Stancer, née Clayton, believes her ambition to prove herself, driving herself through the fear of failure to navigate jaw-dropping expeditions, stems from her desire not to feel like the ‘new girl’. ‘Without Heathfield,’ says Stancer, a cousin of the Queen, ‘I would never have contemplated becoming a polar explorer. I would have just watched others do it – much safer – but Heathfield girls are not observers of life.’
RICHARD WOLLOCOMBE
PHOTOS: JOE STEVENS; SHUTTERSTOCK
Wellington College, Berkshire
SIR CHRIS BONINGTON UCS Hampstead, London
A holder of the Commander of the Order of the British Empire award, Octogenerian Sir Chris Bonington’s career includes nineteen expeditions to the Himalayas. His love of climbing started from a hitch-hiking expedition to Wales and inspired his school UCS Hampstead to create a climbing club. School wasn’t easy for Bonington as he struggled academically but the teaching was superb and imbued the explorer to leave school with the confidence to go on and conquer the world; he reached the summit of Everest in 1985. Bonington still returns to UCS Hampstead as a speaker and notices they foster the same principles being keen to encourage independent thinking and the high quality of teaching.
Richard Wollocombe is a celebrated cinematographer, known for his work on Galápagos, Planet Earth II and Jangal. Wollacombe remembers Wellington as being a competitive, supportive, and nurturing environment to grow up in, although sometimes challenging as an overseas boarder. Wellington inspired him to develop the confidence, curiosity and critical thinking he needed to pursue his dreams while making good friends. Boarding allowed him to cultivate tolerance and broad-mindedness which ultimately opened up into career in Natural History and Conservation film making. OTHER INTREPID ALUMNI: Awardwinning photojournalist Rick Findler. Autumn/Winter 2021 | SCHOOLHOUSEMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 93
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SCHOOL HOUSE PARTNERSHIP
LEARNING SUPER POWERS John Evans, Headmaster of Royal Russell Junior School, explains how the Russell Learning Powers are helping pupils to navigate a year of unprecedented disruption to education.
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s the pandemic landscape focuses schools, children and families on what children may have missed from classroom-based learning, it becomes more important than ever that we remember it is not just about what they are learning, but their awareness of the skills and tactics they use in order to problem-solve and learn. As schools and families have battled their way through the last 18 months, it is clear that time in classrooms is now at more of a premium than ever. Although the amount of lost progress may differ, initial research agrees that children’s education has suffered globally during the enforced period of home learning. However, the race is on to support their future progress and as schools look to make up a deficit of classroom experience, the danger is that teachers will feel rushed into cramming an already full curriculum into a smaller amount of time. While it is sensible to revisit content which was delivered online, it is vital that we remember our core aim: to teach children the skills they need to learn successfully. At Royal Russell, we believe that it is imperative to develop learners who have an awareness of their strengths and weaknesses and the strategies that they use to learn in order to help them fulfil their potential. We
worked with leading educational expert, C. J. Simister, to create an approach to learning that develops higher order learning skills, known as our ‘Russell Learning Powers’. The Learning Powers enable our pupils to use their initiative and reasoning skills while being curious, creative, resilient, reflective and collaborative. The Powers are woven into our curriculum and our teachers will explicitly use them as they scaffold learning opportunities for the children. We celebrate their use by our pupils and highlight the importance of understanding how and why we are learning alongside what we are learning. This approach means that pupils are motivated, able to discuss their own skills and abilities in these areas, commenting, for instance, on how they have used their own resilience in a particular task. The results of this approach have been very positive both during the periods of online learning and since we have returned to learning together. Our Learning Powers also supported conversations between parents and the school, helping reinforce those messages at home while developing the value placed upon creating confident and engaged learners. Ultimately, our children are more accepting of challenges, less daunted by the process of learning through failing and more confident in their own understanding of themselves as learners. I have been incredibly impressed at how well the children have adapted during this period; first to learning online and then to returning back to learning in the classroom with their peers. Royal Russell pupils are happy, inquisitive, confident learners and kind, thoughtful and supportive classmates. My team and I could not be more proud of them – we’re really excited about the academic year ahead. Royal Russell School, Surrey, is a happy, vibrant and forward-looking community, providing girls and boys from 3 to 18 years with an outstanding range of exciting learning opportunities. You are warmly invited to our open day on Saturday 25 Sept between 08:30 and 12:15. For more information, email admissions@royalrussell. co.uk or visit www.royalrussell.co.uk
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SHOWCASE
BEAR GRYLLS Eton, Berkshire
Bear Grylls, 47, is a living legend in the world of adventure, survival and exploration; he has climbed into the carcass of a camel, drunk the moisture from elephant dung and his own urine from a snake skin. His strength has come from his mistakes over the years, he says, as he learned things you just don’t get taught at school. An Old Etonian, there is much Bear wishes he knew before he joined the SAS and started his life of adventure. Of his time at school, he says, ‘there were people who were brilliant at school who were often distasters in life because they missed the one thing that really matters in life, which is called the fight.’ Bear undoubtedly has that fight and inspiration to triumph in anything he sets his mind to. OTHER INTREPID ALUMNI: Polar explorer Sir Ranulph Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes, 3rd Baronet, OBE, 77 and his friend, Robin Hanbury-Tenison, 85, the President of the charity Survival International is a veteran of over 30 ground-breaking expeditions who survived a 5 week covid-induced coma to trek up Brown Willy on Bodmin Moor.
SARAH OUTEN Stamford High School, Lincolnshire
PHOTOS: SHUTTERSTOCK
In November 2015, Sarah Outen, 35, completed her four and a half year long ‘London2London: Via the World’ challenge by rowing, cycling and kayaking around the entire Northern Hemisphere. Outen’s drive to succeed was fostered at school through sport and the Duke of Edinburgh Award. Failing was not on her ‘to-do’ list. An attitude which came in good stead when she surrendered herself and her trusty rowing boat, Happy Socks, to the flighty wiles of the ocean. She believes that as more emphasis is placed on the softer skills of emotional resilience, selfcompassion and self-care, schools are crafting stronger cohorts of adults ready to take on the world.
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SHOWCASE
TED JACKSON Cranleigh School, Surrey and Hurtwood House, Surrey
Having completed seven marathons in seven days on seven continents and successfully rowed the Atlantic, Ted Jackson, 49, does not shy away from a challenge, nor a laugh. Jackson is planning a third go at the Marathon des Sables, a six-day 156-mile ultramarathon in Morocco, having previously tried to run it dressed as a camel. He believes he owes his resilience and adventure to the annual 50-mile walk undertaken by the Lower Sixth in his house at Cranleigh. ‘Walking for 14+ hours teaches you how to just keep going’. Even lockdown didn’t stop him: he walked a jaw-dropping 100km around his garden in 24-hours with his youngest son. Jackson, who attended and works at Hurtwood House, is driven by the need to be creative and brave. He says you cannot be one without the other.
BELINDA KIRK Redmaids High School, Bristol
CHARLIE WALKER Bryanston, Dorset
Charlie Walker, 34, is a renowned adventurer, writer and speaker, specialising in long-distance expeditions, and has travelled by bicycle, foot, horse and dugout canoe. Crediting his time at Bryanston to helping fuel his inquisitive mind, he set out to explore the world and its people from an early age, commenting, ‘I have no doubt that Bryanston’s wonderful outdoors programme and its beautiful, extensive grounds helped nurture my adventurous spirit.’ Bryanston’s shop proudly contains several books written by Walker, aiming to encourage the school’s youngest explorers to follow their dreams. OTHER INTREPID ALUMNI: TV celebrity and explorer, Ben Fogle.
Belinda Kirk, 47, has walked across Nicaragua, searched for camels in China’s Desert of Death, pioneered expeditions for people with disabilities and rowed unsupported around the whole of Britain. She is the founder of Explorers Connect, a social enterprise that connects people to opportunities for adventures and expeditions. In 2010, she captained the first all-female rowing team to circumnavigate Britain non-stop, completing the journey in 52 days which was described by Richard Branson as, ‘quite the most remarkable achievement carried out by any woman alive today. Absolutely magnificent both for mental and physical achievement bar none.’
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ADVICE
ON THE SOFA Victoria Lambert talks to author Frances Edmonds about the value of learning to fail successfully
PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES
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esilience is one of those life skills we all want our children to develop. Yet, are we as parents sometimes at risk of sabotaging their potential to develop it at the same time? This is one of the questions asked by author Frances Edmonds in her new self-development Frances Edmonds book Repotting Your Life, in which she explores the best ways to get out of a rut – professionally or personally. ‘None of us want our children to fail but dealing with manageable failure early on doesn’t flaw someone for life. ‘It’s a very good life lesson to pick yourself up and start again. We all know that. Yet, when it comes to our teenagers, we encourage them to find that one thing they are good at, to specialise in it and then to excel. That doesn’t leave much time for trying lots of different things which they may find harder or never be the best at.’ Yet, she says, failing is what teaches us to cope with challenges and to be humble. ‘We all know those people who never seem to have failed and ended up being smug or arrogant. That’s not how we want our children to be.’ She mentions a young man whom she describes as a ‘maths whizz’. ‘He was always the best at maths, so did it all the time… A-levels, university... but then he realised that it wasn’t what he wanted to do with his life. He realised there was more but he hadn’t had a chance to try anything else when he was young enough to explore them.’ In effect, Edmonds warns: ‘How many young people climb up this long ladder of excellence only to discover it has been placed against the wrong wall?’ She adds: ‘You don’t want your children to fail at the first hurdle but you don’t want them to flog a dead horse either!’ And it’s not the school’s fault. Most of them offer interesting and wide-ranging enrichment programs – from art classes to Duke of Edinburgh schemes to meditation and mindfulness – but the system is grade focussed. Edmonds quotes WB Yeats: ‘Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.’ Ultimately, it is that same inspiration created by exploring options that will create the growth mindset that brings resilience and allows young
people to trust in themselves. ‘Our children are going to navigate potentially 100-year-long life spans. It’s really important that they understand they can keep growing and changing, and that they are not set on that one path they happened to excel at first.’ Edmonds talks about how adults know when they are stuck in a rut and need to move on. This is a skill, she thinks, teens should learn too. It’s hard to change direction when you have invested in something – your first career choice or a specific university course. ‘For an 18-year-old that can be frightening. It can be hard to see at the time. But learning to do that while young and without fear, learning that nothing is lost or wasted, is a wonderful lesson.’ She quotes the mantra of Silicon Valley: ‘Fail, fail fast, fail forward. That’s what being resilient can help you do, and it breeds more resilience as well.’ Repotting Your Life, £14.99 Elliott & Thompson
THE FOUR STAGES OF REPOTTING
1 2 3 4
POTBOUND Recognise when you need to make a change. This can happen at any age and it could be a relationship as well as a career plan.
POTS AND PLANS Identify what makes you happy and what matters most. Take time to think. Find a quiet space without 21stcentury distractions.
PULLING UP THE ROOTS Reframe your thinking and commit to your repotted future. This may hurt at first. Be ready for that and stick with your new goals. BEDDING IN Reset your purpose and re-energise for your next adventure. Look for the positives and don’t focus on the past.
RADIATORS & DRAINS People fall into these two categories. Radiators generate energy and drains suck your vitality away, leaving you feeling exhausted. If drains have no legitimate call on your time, be ruthless and step away from them. This will help you create headspace and time for your new plans and purpose.
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SCHOOL HOUSE PARTNERSHIP
PARLEZ-VOUS FRANÇAIS? As prestigious international school Ecole Jeannine Manuel recently announced the further expansion of its Bloomsbury (London) campus, we look at the relevance of a bilingual education today.
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here is a widespread belief that bilingual education is reserved for bilingual or at least bicultural families. It is not. At a time when not a week goes by without newspapers printing stories on the decline of modern language learning in British schools, Ecole Jeannine Manuel’s bilingual approach to education offers an alternative, ambitious and successful model. ‘Learning a foreign language is, by itself, important. It is also a means to better understand others, to be able to think like them—it provides access to the world.’ These words by Jeannine Manuel – founder of the eponymous school, which opened in Paris in 1954, and in 2015 in London – reflect the philosophy at the heart of the school’s mission: to promote international understanding through the bilingual education of a multicultural community of students, and to foster pedagogical innovation by exploring best practices in an everchanging global environment. At Ecole Jeannine Manuel, English and French are spoken equally in class. The school’s aim is to bring all pupils to native proficiency – orally and in writing – in both languages. Non Frenchspeaking pupils are welcome at all levels, and the school has specific programmes to help them adapt to the demands of a bilingual curriculum. Students can join
the school with no English up to Year 7. Experience shows that studying in French and in English yields a strong and mutually reinforced command of both languages as well as a deep understanding of the cultures they express. Beyond the purely linguistic skills, a bilingual education also enhances pupils’ capacity for abstract, conceptual thinking and develops a sense of nuance, nurtured by exposure to multiple perspectives. In other words, a bilingual education prepares students to live and thrive in the world of tomorrow. Ecole Jeannine Manuel is also a genuine cultural melting pot where over 45 nationalities are represented within the student body. Living in this kind of international environment yields a special consciousness of one’s place in the world, an appreciation for the broad landscape of culture and civilizations that students learn to understand and value together. Therefore, from nursery to sixth form, students of Ecole Jeannine Manuel benefit from following an ambitious bilingual curriculum. Ultimately, sixth-formers choose between taking either the French Baccalaureate (with an international option) or the International Baccalaureate (IB). Both diplomas are recognised by the most prestigious universities and institutions around the globe. This year, Ecole Jeannine Manuel’s students boast a remarkable 100 per cent pass and honours rate on the French Baccalaureate, and an outstanding 40.6 average on the IB – a feat made all the more impressive by the fact that all students took the bilingual version of the diploma. This has opened the door to some of the world’s most famous universities, with recent graduates obtaining offers from institutions such as Oxford, LSE or Durham in the UK. Further afield, students have gained admission to some of the most prestigious higher education programmes available in North America and Europe. For students who are truly bilingual, the possibilities are endless.
TO FIND OUT MORE : ecolejeanninemanuel.org.uk admissions@jmanuel.uk.net +44 (0)20 3829 5970
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SCHOOL LEAVER
Student at Edinburgh University
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ON THE BRINK News and views for those about to take the leap Students of Data Science at York St John’s
GAP YEAR CONNECTIONS
York St John University has created a new campaign to encourage more businesses to adopt apprenticeship schemes in the aim to upskill the nation’s workforce. The campaign comes off the back of York St John’s successful Senior Leaders’ Degree Apprenticeship, which achieved a 100 per cent pass rate, and national growth in its Data Science programme. The School of Management at the University of Bradford has been named Business School of the Year 2020 by the Educate North Awards. The award recognises the School’s outstanding performance in the areas of financial performance, teaching, research, student experience, innovation and economic impact. Royal Holloway, University of London’s School of Business & Management has earned its business accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). AACSB accreditation recognizes institutions that have demonstrated a focus on excellence in all areas, including teaching, research, curriculum development, and student learning. Cardiff University’s MSc in Cybersecurity has been officially certified by the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). The NCSC degree certification programme recognises high-quality cyber education and is designed to help students make informed choices about pursuing cybersecurity degrees. This Masters provides students with the very latest security principles, practices, tools and techniques.
PHOTOS: UNSPLASH; ROYAL HOLLOWAY, UNIVERSITY OF LONDON
TECH DREAMS
Gapyearly.com has launched a new website connecting gap year students, providing resources and advice to young people. The site includes an internal messaging platform to connect ‘gappers’, mentors and alumni. Gappers can submit blog posts and information to help others get the most out of their year out.
LEEDS BECKETT EXPANDING
Royal Holloway, University of London
Leeds Beckett University has announced its £80m School of Arts building. The unique, high-tech and environmentally friendly specialist facility will support more than 2,500 students and 100 staff in their studies, teaching, and production research. The possibilities created by this building in the film, TV, technology, sound, music, drama, dance, and fashion industries are unlimited.
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NEWS
ROYAL DRAWING SCHOOL
The Royal Drawing School in Shoreditch, London is launching a new three-month intensive drawing course for school leavers. The full-time programme is an opportunity for students to immerse themselves into an art school environment, gaining a rigorous grounding in skills-based observational drawing, and the creative thinking skills to tackle the complex demands of their chosen academic pathway and beyond. royaldrawingschool.org/courses/school-leavers
VIRTUAL WORK EXPERIENCE BOOM
Education charity Speakers for Schools has been running a new scheme aiming to make sure young people who have missed out on gaining valuable work experience this year don’t fall behind. By allowing young people and employers to continue with work experience, the disconnect between the two has been removed. The scheme has provided over 31,000 people across the UK with vital experience.
Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne alongside the Bye Bye Plastic Bags campaign
TACKLING CLIMATE CHANGE
UK universities have topped the Times Higher Education’s Impact Rankings for the first time. The University of Manchester was awarded first place, with 10 other UK institutions in the top 50. The rankings aim to devise a new way of defining excellence in higher education and how universities are working to reach the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne (EHL), the world’s leading Hospitality University, is doing all it can to educate its students on the importance of preserving the environment. Hosting a Sustainability Week every year, partnering with charities such as Bye Bye Plastic Bags, and introducing a Corporate Sustainability course this year, EHL is certainly doing its part and learning from its students every day to make the best decisions for future generations.
PHOTOS: UNSPLASH; ROYAL HOLLOWAY, UNIVERSITY OF LONDON
SINGAPORE ALLIANCE
British universities such as Coventry, King’s College London, Manchester, Bath and Edinburgh have come together with Singaporean universities to accelerate entrepreneurship and innovation collaboration. The group, which comprises 16 universities in all and is called the UK-Singapore Universities Alliance for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (UKSAEI), aims to facilitate and share knowledge and co-operate in the training of young techies and entrepreneurs.
Graduates outside the National Gallery, Singapore
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A lone traveller looking for her departure times
A GOOD SEND OFF Milly Whitehead of The Leap writes a letter to parents offering a five-step guide to planning a gap year in a pandemic
1
BRACE THEM FOR COVID TRAVEL ADMIN
There is nothing simple about travelling right now. The new gapper must be super flexible; flights will be changed countless times and cold beer is a bonus. Flights: Do NOT let them book cheap flights online through dodgy
booking sites. This is not the time; you need access to a human being. Remember buy cheap, buy twice. Incident support teams: At the start of the pandemic, we were helping as many people as we could to repatriate kids from faraway places. I know the worry of a parent; my son was one of those rescued from Bolivia. So
do not let them leave home without signing up to an Incident Support Team. We can advise you on the best. QR codes and PCR tests: Entering or leaving a country is a minefield and ever changing. Make sure whomever your student books their travel with has experience of the ‘procedures’ required to enter that country. Do not leave home without the right insurance: They simply cannot leave home without it and the key message is the policy must insure you regardless of the FCDO travel advice saying stay at home. This is essential and many insurance companies are happy to sell them their policy without telling them – do not let them fall into this trap.
2
COVID RISK ASSESSMENT
I am not going to bombard you with the Covid statistics per country or indeed the number of fire escapes in each hostel. Right now, what they and you, as a family, need to think about is a country’s infrastructure. Ask questions such as:
Hospitals & facilities: How many are there and how are they equipped
for a Covid or other emergency? Flights: How many airlines are flying in right now? This has a bearing on how fast we could get you out if there was an emergency.
PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES
D
ear Parent, Navigating this pandemic has been a unique challenge for us all but last year, we at The Leap jumped through many a hoop, hurdled 101 border issues and conquered the mysteries of QR codes to save the gap year for the class of 2020/21. Along the way it’s safe to say we became Covid travel experts and are now ready to help the next gapper generation exit home safely and responsibly. So, panic not, parents – they won’t be on your sofa for the next 18 months providing we...
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GAP YEAR
Internet & phones: Again, how reliable and efficient are they to assist in repatriation out or to reach a hospital which could cope with a covid case. Government: How reliable and dependable is it? Looking back at last year how fast did they lockdown and how did they look after trapped tourists? Who will look after your children in a crisis?
3
BE FLEXIBLE
Destinations: These are changing by the week so remain
flexible and open minded. It’s not easy to travel between countries so forget the cross-Asia hostel-hopping extravaganza or the Top Gear-style race from Argentina to Colombia. Now is the time to choose one country and do it well. Slow down and take it all in. You can keep a close eye on the UK government website, or you can just ask us and we will keep you up to date. Red lists: Do not be afraid. Gap year students are not holiday makers and have much to offer of real relevance to countries – last year gap year students stepped in to save animals about to be shot because there was no-one to feed them. We have learnt so much this year about what the red list means and how to circumnavigate it. I can bore you for hours on our red list planning.
4
5
TRAVEL WITH A CONSCIENCE
Simply put, we know too much about the people and projects who are struggling overseas – no furlough for them. Giving back is so rewarding and this year’s gappies, who all had to volunteer to legally leave the country, were amazed at how much they got back from it. You really do have a different, dare I say it richer experience than just being a hostel hopper. So, there we have it – five guidelines for the kitchen table gap year chat. No more full moon parties around Asia but rather a more responsible, life-enhancing adventure. Even Covid has a silver lining. Always here to guide and advise. Milly For more information on accessing help with your gap year advice get in contact with the Year out Group or join LEAP VIP which provides back-up support throughout their travels.
FIND THEIR PERFECT DESTINATION
Don’t let their friends, or indeed Instagram, tell them where. This is their time and a definite match of challenge is essential. You want them to feel out of their comfort zone but not freaked out. Do this by asking them what they want to experience: jungle, mountains or beach? Hot, humid or arid? Architecture or environment? Wildlife or community? Level of challenge? Africa, for example, offers a completely different experience to South America.
Beach clear up as part of the scuba program in Costa Rica
PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES
Early morning trek on the reserve in Namiba
Removal of invasive species on the reserve in Namibia
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Pupils consider their options at Bryanston, Dorset
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Championing the International Baccalaureate Max Davidson asks, has the A-level had its day?
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alling something a well-kept secret when it has been around for more than fifty years, in plain sight, might seem perverse, but that, sadly, is the reality of the International Baccalaureate (IB), which originated in Switzerland in the 1950s. One would have thought that ambitious parents of teenage children would have a good general awareness of the educational options facing their offspring. But that awareness does not seem to extend to IBs, which might as well be an acronym for ‘irritable bowel syndrome’ as far as many parents are concerned. Do they just see the word ‘international’ and assume it is something foreign and un-British and leave it at that? The extent of parents’ ignorance of IBs is laid bare in a recent YouGov survey of parents carried out on behalf of Fulham School in London, which is launching its sixth form this September and provisionally offering the IB curriculum on its purpose-built campus. It is currently an IB candidate school, awaiting ratification from the IB organisation. Of the 1000-plus parents surveyed by YouGov, nearly half (46 per cent) had not even heard of the IB programme, while of those who had heard of it, a quarter (26 per cent) had not yet considered enrolling their children. They preferred what they regarded as the tried-and-tested educational route of GCSEs followed by A-levels. The great irony is that, when it comes to getting children into university, about which parents care deeply, the IB programme can boast a significantly better track record than A-levels. According to the latest data, IB diploma students are 13 per cent more likely to attend a top higher education institute than A-level students. That simple statistic alone should make ambitious parents sit up and take notice. The even greater irony is that, when the same parents were asked what kind of education they wanted their children to have in the sixth form, they pinpointed the very qualities which fans of the IB have been trumpeting for years – educational breadth rather than concentration on a small number of subjects. Forty-two per cent of parents in the survey said they favoured an internationally recognised, holistic sixth form programme with up to six subject-specific courses, instead of the traditional three or four stand-alone subject-specific course offer of A-levels. In a nutshell, they want IB. There was also widespread agreement amongst the parents surveyed that they would like their children’s school to focus on such qualities as confidence, critical thinking and taking responsibility – all of which the IB has been specifically designed to develop. And if some parents might regard concepts like critical thinking as a bit wishy-washy, irrelevant in the working world, they must surely take note of the fact that, when it comes to the little matter of post-university earning potential, IB also seems to hold the edge. According to data compiled by the Higher Education Statistics Agency in 2016, the median salary of a student who had studied the IB and gone on to hold a degree in Mathematical Sciences was substantially higher than that of A-level student graduating with the same degree. Autumn/Winter 2021 | SCHOOLHOUSEMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 107
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SCHOOL LEAVER
overall mark out of 50 at the end of their studies, it is made up of so many elements, including a written essay and teacher assessment, that there is not the same dependence on one-off exam results, with all the attendant stresses, which is the hallmark of A-levels. For parents shopping around for schools, the biggest stumbling-block at the moment is that most schools do not offer a binary choice between A-levels and the IB programme – or offer the latter at all. Currently only 95 schools in the UK offer an IB Diploma, with the IB ‘league table’ topped by King’s College, Wimbledon and the North London Collegiate School. At the latter, which has a large sixth form, both IBs and A-levels are taught, with only about a quarter of pupils opting for IBs. Sometimes the clue is in the name. At the Southbank International School in Westminster, for example, it is hardly surprising to find a flourishing IB programme. The school wears its globalist heart on its sleeve. But enthusiasm for IB extends beyond the capital. One leading IB champion is Sevenoaks School in Kent which, in 2006, took the radical step of moving wholesale from A-levels to IBs. It was the first major UK school to take the plunge but, according to headmaster Jesse Elzinga, the decision has been amply vindicated. ‘We now have one of the UK’s biggest IB cohorts, with over 200 students taking the Diploma,’ he says. ‘We get fantastic results. In 2020, our average score was 40.1, ten points above
Sixth Former at Sevenoaks school, Kent
Chris Cockerill, who is launching the new sixth form at Fulham School and was formerly head of sixth form at the North London Collegiate School, a leading IB school, was not surprised by the IB-sceptical attitudes revealed in the survey. ‘Selling something that is unfamiliar is always difficult, although we have been encouraged by the number of parents who studied A-levels themselves but want something better for their own children. Hopefully, over time, we will be able to demystify the IB model of education and make it more accessible.’ Part of the problem, he says, lies with children themselves and their limited appetite for academic studies during their giddy teenage years. ‘They see the IB programme as more rigorous and time-consuming than A-levels, with fewer free periods in the week. In my experience, it is children who are naturally curious and want to use their critical faculties, not just mug up on facts and figures, who are attracted to the intellectual breadth of IB.’ For Cockerill, one of the most underrated of human skills is simply ‘the ability to articulate your thoughts’. He has seen any number of bright pupils fall at this vital hurdle, perhaps because they have opted for science A-levels and no longer hone their skills in written English. ‘Where the IB programme has the edge over A-levels, in my opinion, is its encouragement of critical thinking across a broad spectrum of subjects throughout the sixth form.’ IB schools at their best, insist champions of the programme, are the antithesis of exam factories. Although pupils score an
Fulham School art student
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Pupils at St George’s School, Windsor Castle, with the opportunity to begin the Primary Years Programme
the world average. But the real joy of the IB Diploma, making it the pointed out numerous flaws with A-levels – including, most damningly, best education in the world for sixth-formers, is its breadth. It pulls the premature narrowing of what young people study. together aspects of creativity, action and service, producing rounded In 2020, just 4.4 per cent of A-level students took more than three young adults with a range of skills and aptitudes. All in all, it is a superb subjects – a drop of nearly half in the last four years alone. If that is not a preparation for university and the world of work, furnishing students narrow curriculum, what is? Compare that with France, where students with a global outlook and liberal, compassionate mind-set.’ of the same age study six compulsory subjects alongside two or three optional courses, Germany, where they take four or five subjects, or Sadly, Sevenoaks remains an outlier. And below the sixth form offering there are even fewer Ireland, where students taking candidates for the IB World the equivalent of A-levels take School. Dr Christopher seven subjects. Stevens, Headmaster of rising If A-levels are under threat star Bradfield College which from IBs, they also have a rival offers the IB, is delighted in BTechs, which offer an that one of its feeder preps, increasingly attractive pathway St George’s School, Windsor to specialised apprenticeships. Castle is to offer the Primary A few Eton and Oxford Years Programme but it is the eyebrows were raised when first standalone prep school in Gavin Williamson said that the country to do so. he would be happy if his own children became apprentices For parents of a progressive bent, the continuing instead of going to university. perception that the IB is more But it may prove to be one of niche than mainstream brings Chris Cockerill, head of Fulham School, London his few telling contributions to obvious frustrations. Even if the education debate. One thing seems certain. After the turbulence of the last couple of they are persuaded of the case for IB, it is only one of several factors years, and the rumpus about exam grades, parents and schools alike which they will want to take into account when planning where their are going to have to re-examine the broader question of what sixthchildren should study in the sixth form. formers should be taught and why. Have traditional A-levels become But, one way and another, the tide seems to be turning against an educational strait-jacket for bright, inquiring minds? It will be an A-levels, which used to be trumpeted as a gold standard. A recent, important national conversation and the International Baccalaureate highly critical report by the EDSK think-tank, run by Tom Richmond, needs to be a key part of it. a former adviser to Michael Gove when he was Education Secretary,
‘Selling something that is unfamiliar is always difficult, although we have been encouraged by the number of parents who studied A-levels themselves but want something better for their own children. Hopefully, over time, we will be able to demystify the IB model of education and make it more accessible.’
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IF THE SHOE FITS
Y
our time has come to find a university. It’s exciting – you’re about to enter the real world. I remember it well, browsing the bookcases in the sixth form common room filled with prospectuses, each one as much of a mystery as the next. But how should you go about choosing a degree? Should you select the university, and then the course – or approach it course-first? The latter is by far the most persuasive. That is to say, focus on the course content when making a decision, and then consider other factors that make up the student experience. Of course, you might not have a sense of what you’d like to do postuniversity, nor of which subject to choose. ‘Don’t just pick your least hated A-level – that’s a hiding to nowhere,’ says Anna Rogers, head of Higher Education and Careers at Tonbridge School in Kent. Instead, think big. ‘What else do you give time in your life to? Is it sport, film, US culture?’ Some subjects – medicine, architecture, and nursing – provide a clear professional pathway. Others, such as law, are more open. If you are not set on a specific career path but wish to make your degree both interesting and useful, a joint honours degree might suit: computer science with business; Arabic and Japanese; art history and
management, and many more. Exeter offers hundreds of joint honours courses, making traditional subjects such as ancient history fit for the 21st century: its ancient history and archaeology with employment experience degree has a third year in industry. Think around the traditional subjects on offer, too. Say you like geography and economics – why not look at global sustainable development? This course is available at Warwick University, if you have three As. Other non-traditional subjects, such as American Studies – offered by 16 universities nationwide, including the University of Swansea, where you don’t need any specific A-levels to enter its four-year course with a year abroad – provide an alternative scheme that might appeal to both your interests, as well as academic strengths. When considering courses, it is worth remembering that you are going to be studying towards this qualification for three years or more. Finding the right one is critical – and by ‘right’, that’s ‘right’ for you, rather than your parents, teachers, or friends. ‘If you’re enjoying your course then you’ve always got an anchor to the university,’ says Rogers. ‘If you’re not, then you’re not going to be motivated to go. Everything that comes from that – anxieties around whether you’re in the right
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PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES, UNIVERSITY OF ST ANDREWS
Choosing a university is about finding the course which feels right for you, discovers Eleanor Doughty
UNIVERSITY
PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES, UNIVERSITY OF ST ANDREWS
University of St Andrews on their traditional graduate Pier Walk
Graduation celebrations
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UNIVERSITY place, and the beginning of imposter syndrome – can be alleviated if you pick the right course to start with.’ While ‘the right course’ means ‘the right course for you’, you might wonder what ‘right’ actually means. After all, there are over 50,000 degree courses in the UK to choose from. Even with the subject nailed down, how do you know which course is The One? Consider what – and how – you like to learn. ‘With economics,’ says Rogers, ‘if you don’t like statistics then you can avoid the heavily statistical courses. Likewise in English, you might want to avoid Beowulf. With medicine, how is it structured? At Oxford and Cambridge you essentially do a science degree first.’ Then think about how you like to learn. Would you enjoy small groups, and a more personalised environment – or the anonymity of a large institution? Olivera Raraty, headmistress of Malvern St James Girls’ School in Worcestershire is seeing more of her pupils inspect the course content before applying to university. ‘Students are becoming much more aware of not just where they go in terms of lifestyle experience, but also the type of course they’re going to be studying,’ she says. Beyond the size of the university, consider how you like to be assessed – using exams, or coursework. Geography might factor in too: do you want to live in a cathedral city, a metropolis, or a campus in the countryside? Perhaps London takes your fancy. If so, the city has 40 universities, each with its own character. There are also more personal factors to bear in mind. ‘Students are looking for specific needs from the institutions as well – including the support that’s available,’ says Ben Jordan, policy manager at UCAS. Success rates aren’t the prerogative of the university critera; a student
is also asking the same questions. So while universities are looking to recruit individuals who will flourish post-graduation, students too will be asking how will they do on the course, do we have the right facilities for them, the right support services? ‘That element of student success is the total package,’ says Jordan. All of this will come into student decision-making about where they should study. Once you have constructed your own set of filters, then you can imagine a clearer picture for yourself and your future degree. ‘Students are more like customers now,’ says Ali Clark, head of student recruitment at the University of Stirling. ‘You’re not going to buy a car without test-driving it, and it’s the same for university.’ Lucy Waweru, careers and higher education adviser at Rugby School in Warwickshire also favours the course-first approach. Sometimes, when her charges draw up a menu of universities, they find that some don’t offer the subject they’ve got in mind. Engineering is not taught at St Andrews, for example. ‘It’s important that they start from “what do I want to study?”,’ says Waweru. Would-be freshers, she adds, ‘get’ academia. ‘They have been studying since they were three, so they know what they’re good at, but what they don’t know is universities. If they’re going to make an error, it’s likely to be the university and not the course.’ Of course, it’s essential to actually like the subject. There’s no point in pretending in order to get into a particular university, says Diana Morant, head of school and university consultancy at William Clarence. ‘We are often asked by families who are thinking about Oxbridge, if we applied with this course, is it easier to get in? If you’re not applying for what you have a passion for, then you’re not going to get in. You must be applying for what you really want to study.’
YOU’LL NEVER BELIEVE WHO IS BEST FOR… HISTORY OF ART University of Kent (5th) ENGINEERING Swansea University (9th) MATHS Heriot-Watt University (12th) PHILOSOPHY University of Dundee (10th) MANAGEMENT University of Bath (7th) FRENCH University of Southampton (4th) PHARMACOLOGY University of Strathclyde (2nd) ARABIC University of Westminster (9th) SOCIAL WORK Robert Gordon University (6th) MUSIC Royal Holloway, University of London (6th)
Lancaster University
*According to the Complete University Guide
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S N IO ON AT D C N LO LO E N TO RE SE G LO C
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UNIVERSITY
Out on the water at Stirling University
Aston University computer science students
Just as bigger is not always better, however, sometimes higher overall university rankings do not mean that you are getting the very best course. For those interested in reading history of art, the top five universities for the subject according to the Complete Universities Guide reads thus: Cambridge, Oxford, St Andrews, Warwick… Kent. The first four are in the top 12 universities nationwide, while Kent is number 45, and its entry requirements for history of art are BBC, compared to ABB at Warwick, where there are 24 variations on a history of art course to choose from. And for would-be engineering students, Aston University in cohort. If you’re coached to within an inch of your life and you get into Oxford and you’re bumping along the bottom, that’s a horrible Birmingham is ranked thirteenth in the country, though its overall university rating comes in at 47th. The highest entry requirement place to be. Similarly, you don’t want to go to a university when you’ve for its seven engineering courses is BBC. These might suit you better got four A*s, and everyone else has got in on BBC.’ And if you’re going than the courses on offer at Queen Mary, which is ranked eleventh to spend three years there, you’re going to need to like the place: ‘it’s for engineering, and for which about arriving and feeling a you need AAB. sense of someone saying hello There are hundreds of to you,’ adds Rogers. similar examples. Huge My own experience bore emphasis is put on the this out; interviewing at a university in the global Russell Group, an assembly of 24 universities, but it can top ten, I left feeling cold. be misplaced, says Clark: It goes to show, says Clark, ‘we often get approached by that just because ‘there’s a parents and students asking high-ranked university that if we’re in the Russell Group, offers the course, it doesn’t but when you ask them what necessarily mean that the the Russell Group is, they’ve course is right for you.’ These got no idea.’ Ali Clark, University of Stirling rankings, says Clark, are not For those looking to study always helpful. ‘Students need marketing, Bath University ranks number one; for forensic science, to focus on the things that are important to them.’ If the ranking is it’s Strathclyde; and for social work it’s Lancaster. None are Russell important to you, that’s great – but the chances are that atmosphere, Group members. reading lists, and student life might bring more to bear. Rogers puts What is important, says Rogers, is to match the university ‘level’ it best. Get the course right, and the rest will follow, she says. ‘We do well in the things that we like.’ to your predicted grades. ‘You need to be in the right academic
Huge emphasis is put on the Russell Group, an assembly of 24 universities, but it can be misplaced, says Clark: ‘we often get approached by parents and students asking if we’re in the Russell Group, but when you ask them what the Russell Group is, they’ve got no idea.’
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PHOTOS: UNSPLASH
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here was a time when a particular educational path bestowed a measure of certainty of employment. A decent set of A-levels offered up a choice of well-regarded universities. A degree at one of those universities, irrespective of subject, opened the door to excellent career prospects. Parents today, who may have been the beneficiary of this route themselves, are seeing the erosion of these certainties, accelerated further by the pandemic. A slew of A*s no longer guarantees a place at a highly sought-after university and, for many, the university ‘experience’ has been absent both in terms of face-to-face teaching and social life over the last year. As the world becomes increasingly fast-paced and competitive, employers are looking for much more from graduates than the stamp of a certain university or degree on a CV. A survey conducted by the Sutton Trust in 2019, found that 20 per cent of students thought studying for a degree was not as important compared to 11 per cent in 2013. A further report published in February this year, ‘Covid-19 and the University Experience,’ by Dr Rebecca Montacute and Erica Holt-White, states that 76 per cent of students are worried about gaining the skills and experience needed for employment. Are universities becoming outmoded and what are the viable alternatives for today’s students operating in an uncertain world? Andrew Bray, Head of Future Pathways at Bryanston, Dorset, has noticed a shift and the school is responding accordingly. ‘We recognise that the landscape for pupils is changing as more options become available to them. We are seeing an increase in vocational subjects and, among our Year 12 pupils, we are seeing an increasing trend of them looking at alternative options to university. More businesses are offering degree apprenticeships, and this is an option that is becoming more popular as pupils are attracted to studying for a degree while gaining valuable experience and a high chance of securing a job at the end of their degree.’ Bryanston has introduced an annual mock assessment centre for all Year 12s which is run by a global business and gives the pupils the experience of what to expect when applying for degree apprenticeships and graduate jobs. Bray recognises the need to adapt. ‘As new courses, routes and careers evolve, we must continue to tailor our teaching to provide our pupils with the information and knowledge of these opportunities.’ Benjamin, one of Bryanston’s pupil is all in favour. ‘I am considering alternate routes after my A-levels due to the fact that the value for money you get at university is far lower than it once was, and in the eyes of many employers, experience is more valuable than a degree.’
PHOTOS: UNSPLASH
Production experience at the BBC
Working on building experience all round
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UNIVERSITY
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The degree apprenticeship is arguably the most obvious alternative available to those who might otherwise consider the traditional route of a university degree. Combining paid work and study, it’s an attractive option. The fact that it is offered by professions such as law and accountancy and many large commercial enterprises is a strong indication that apprenticeships are a serious contender and competition for them is fierce. For example, some City law firms now offer solicitor apprenticeships. This enables aspiring lawyers to obtain training in house and study at the same time whilst being paid. Although an intense workload, direct experience of the nature of the work involved and the dynamics of a law firm puts a candidate in an enviable position compared to a graduate law student who may not have any experience of commercial practicalities. A First in law is not that much use if you are unable to advise a client over the telephone. An apprenticeship, including training to pass the new Solicitors Qualifying Examination, typically takes five to six years to complete, which is still comparable to a traditional degree and vocational training. Sam Guttridge is in his second year of a BSc (Hons) Building Surveying Degree Apprenticeship course with Munday + Cramer Architectural and Building Surveyors Ltd. ‘I chose the degree apprenticeship route over other options as I was set on getting a degree, but I was concerned about the financial implications of university. I wasn’t keen on the idea of having to pay back a student loan or scrape by on wages from a part-time university job. It’s great having financial freedom while also receiving a university education. The day-to-day work gives you indispensable first-hand experience that you would struggle to get on a full-time course and the university education expands your
knowledge in areas that would rarely be touched on in certain practices.’ Lee Hatwell, Director at Munday + Cramer, states that the apprenticeship route has quickly become their go-to method of developing professional teams across their business. ‘Their opportunities are endless and despite the current uncertain times, apprentices have a huge role to play in taking our profession and business to the next level.’ Abigail Chadd, Director of independent A-level revision and tuition company A Level Revision UK, says that in the last 12 months, they have observed a shift in students’ approach to higher education. ‘Many students are now looking for alternative routes to pursue their dream careers and, with forward thinking companies offering higher level apprenticeships, there isn’t any reason why, with a strong set of A-level results, students can’t be just as successful stepping straight into industry.’ Or by looking at alternative training options. Those wishing to follow a creative path where access to industry contacts and experience is key, can obtain just that at places like Access Creative College; previous students include Ed Sheeran, Jess Glynne, Rita Ora and JP Cooper and students have moved into other industries from heading up a radio station to running stages at Glastonbury festival. Mark Smithers, centre manager at its Bristol base, says they are also seeing increasing numbers join at 16 and 18. ‘It’s an opportunity to be in a working environment among some of the best in the business. Our experience shows that the connections and contacts students make while they learn are hugely beneficial to their future careers. There’s something to be said for being taught and mentored by tutors who are in the industry, who have sight of the skills in highest demand and what the most lucrative roles of the future might look like.’ Susan Smith is a careers consultant at All Things Careers and works Autumn/Winter 2021 | SCHOOLHOUSEMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 119
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Sciences at Bryanston, Dorset
with parents and students to inform them of the alternative routes One of the attractions of the university route is the experience available. She has often found herself up against the long-held view itself. ‘University is still seen as a transitory experience between school that university is the only viable route to a good career. And it is true and the world of work and both our pupils, and their parents favour for some careers, there is no substitute for the traditional route. ‘One this route,’ says Repton’s Head of Higher Education and Careers, Jack area we have seen remain consistent during this period,’ says Chadd Swanston. ‘Given the significant investment that so many of our parents ‘are students wishing to go into the medical profession. Competition make in their sons and daughters’ secondary education, the general is extremely fierce for medical feeling is that aspiring to degrees with UCAS receiving a further study will enhance record number of applications their educational experience. last year, something we expect Our pupils see university study as a more holistic to see reflected again in 2022 experience, often looking applicants.’ But for many blue-chip for an institution that will careers, apprenticeships can offer an exciting location, be seen as an easier way of excellent study opportunities getting a foot through the and a variety of sporting door. ‘If students are not doing provisions. Early career entry internships at university or not wouldn’t necessarily provide getting involved in leadership these opportunities as part roles within clubs and societies, of a cohesive experience. Andrew Bray, Head of Future Pathways at Bryanston Rather than seeing a rise it is incredibly hard to compete and successfully apply to large in vocational training and blue chip graduate positions,’ says Smith. ‘The opportunity to get into apprenticeships, we have seen a greater number of pupils applying investment banking, finance, local government and Westminster is internationally and securing places at some of the world’s most phenomenal with the degree apprenticeship route. The degree is the renowned universities.’ Despite the uncertainties of the last year, university is still viewed same degree. It’s not watered down. I have also noticed an increase in employers approaching outstanding sixth form students. It is just as the ultimate destination for many. However, for those who are keen like graduate employers targeting university students.’ However, to explore the challenge of a different route into employment, there Smith notes that, for many, the idea of student life at university is are now many exciting opportunities and a greater choice. Universities still a big draw. cannot afford to be complacent.
‘More businesses are offering degree apprenticeships, and this is an option that is becoming more popular as pupils are attracted to studying for a degree while gaining valuable experience and a high chance of securing a job at the end of their degree.’
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SCHOOL HOUSE PARTNERSHIP
MOVING ON UP David Boyd, Head of Tormead School, reflects on the year his school community has faced and how they are moving forward
S
tarting my second year as Head of Tormead, I’ve reflected a lot over the summer break, on the impressive manner in which our Senior and Prep School girls and staff have weathered the many challenges of the last year, to emerge stronger, more confident and ambitious for the future. As I write, we have just celebrated the achievements of our upper sixth and Year 11 students who have received impressive A-level and GCSE results after two years of disruption and uncertainty throughout their courses. With 79 per cent of our upper sixth girls achieving A*/A grades and 89 per cent of our GCSE grades awarded at grade 9–7, I could not be more proud of their efforts, as they have faced the challenges of studying in a pandemic, with true resilience and dedication. Our upper sixth go on to what I know will be bright and varied futures in some of the country’s top universities and most competitive courses, and we wish them all the very best. I firmly believe, however, that schools are about more than just A-level results which conclude a girl’s formal secondary education. In this instance, it has been the values and ethos of Tormead, instilled through their time at school, and the hard work and support of our wonderful teaching and pastoral staff, that has helped our students face the hurdles of the last two years with such success. Those values stress the importance of resilience
and perspective: being kind to each other and ourselves brings greater rewards than self-interest and single-mindedness. At Tormead, we believe that an outstanding education is a holistic one, where participation in the school’s many extra and co-curricular opportunities stands shoulder-to-shoulder with students’ effort and achievement in the classroom. Our girls are successful because they learn to be busy and engaged, supported by staff who understand that young people need help in managing competing priorities. Throughout this last year, it is a testament to the vibrancy of this philosophy that Tormead grew its extracurricular programme, at the same time many schools cut theirs back. We are now the only Guildford school offering rowing in our sports programme, and options for our girls vary from netball and hockey, to football and rugby, with our top sportswomen given expert direction through our Elite Athlete Programme. On stage, the summer term of 2021 saw four drama productions performed by different year groups, ranging from a contemporary production of ‘Odysseus’ performed to a live audience, to a series of Year 7 comedy sketches, streamed online. The summer holidays began with a successful Drama Camp with boys from the RGS, Guildford. All this doesnt happen by accident, but through the dedication of staff who want the best for their students and go the extra mile, and students who are highly motivated and engaged. In our Prep School and Pre-Prep, there is huge excitement for the new academic year as Nicki Fry starts as the Head, having overseen extensive investment in our Prep facilities over this summer. These include an upgraded, dedicated Prep School science laboratory, new outdoor school, Wild Side, refurbished classrooms, library and performance space. As our Prep School continues to grow, we know these facilities will enhance the learning experience for all our younger girls. These examples of what Tormead can achieve under challenging conditions gives you a sense of the level of opportunity we offer our girls. Whatever their stage of learning, interests or passions, they can grow and develop their potential and confidence.
FIND OUT MORE tormeadschool.org.uk registrar@tormeadschool. org.uk; 01483 575101
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SCHOOL’S OUT
Feeling zen on the Zambesi
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CHARITY
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‘The secondary school in Makole is the leading school for dropouts because of teenage pregnancies’ – Aisha, 24, Tanzania Aisha walks from house to house, knocking on doors and speaking to her community in Makole, just outside of Dodoma, Tanzania’s capital since 1974. She asks people questions about how the local health clinic could serve them better. Aisha is one of the Restless Development’s young 24,485 leaders in 74 different countries. We trained Aisha to collect data and use it to campaign on problems that affect her community.
Thanks to Aisha’s work, the local health clinic has trained more staff to provide specialist care to young people and women, helping to reduce early pregnancies in her community. Restless Development works with thousands of young people every year who are on a mission to change their communities and the world for the better. We provide training to young people to support their journey to lead change. Be part of their journey too. Support Restless Development and young leaders like Aisha.
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SCHOOL’S OUT
WHAT’S ON
COLD WEATHER ESSENTIALS
Creative, cultural and cosy
STOCKING FILLERS
BEADED BEAUTY Add some colour to your life with handmade beaded jewellery inspired and made by Maasai women in aid of the African conservation charity Tusk. rhimani.co.uk
PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES; FOUR SEASONS RESORT MALDIVES © MARKUS GORTZ; UNSPLASH; ICE HOTEL © ASAF KLIGER & BENNY EKMAN; P & CO LTD 2021; PEPONI HOTEL; DISNEY
BUCKET LIST BOOKS Inspire your child to read with a Bucket List scratch off poster of 100 Kids Books. £14.99. theliterary giftcompany. com
TOASTY TOES Give the gift of warm toes with Bamboo Organic Cotton socks. Set of four, £24.95. wearethought.com
HOT
SUPPORTING THE ARTS WEST END Dive into the world of Ana and Elsa with Frozen the Musical at London’s Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, guaranteed to melt the heart of the staunchest Disney critic. Opens 27 Aug. frozenthemusical.co.uk SHAKESPEARE UNWRAPPED Sneak a peek into the Royal Shakespeare Company’s rehearsal room following the words of The Magician’s Elephant by Kate DiCamillo from page to stage at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford. 4 Dec 2021. rsc.org.uk BEAR-Y EXCITING Discover the creation of one of the world’s most beloved fictional bears at the family-friendly Paddington: The Story of a Bear exhibition at the British Library, 60 years on from when the first book was first published. 9 July to 31 Oct 2021. bl.uk
HOLIDAY FUN CHRISTMAS MARKETS Cologne in Germany, Bruges in Belgium, Paris in France and Bath in the UK are all beautiful cities with amazing Christmas markets. christmasmarkets.com JUMP, SKIP AND HOP Lousy weather? Get the kids moving at Airhop Guildford; trampolines, obstacle courses and foam pits. airhop-guildford.com LEGENDARY FOOTSTEPS Escape on Scotland’s Storybook Trail, ride the Hogwarts Express across Glenfinnan Viaduct or fly to Neverland at J.M. Barrie’s birthplace in Kirriemuir. visitscotland.com
LIP BALM Soften up with Kiehl’s Butterstick Lip Treatment. £19.75. kiehls.com
WINTER COAT Get them wrapped up warm in the Kids Greenland Winter Jacket. £150. fjallraven.com
H A PP Y HOL I DAYS
Four Seasons Resort Maldives Soak up the sun by the pool at one of the Four Seasons hotels in the Maldives. Be pampered in their spa. Dine in luxury while the family are entertained at the Kids’ Club or windsurf around the island. Choose from two hotels, a liveaboard or your own island. Villas from approx. £1,319 per night. fourseasons.com
PASHMINA DAYS The ideal Cashmere Travel Wrap for cold days on the sport pitch’s sideline. £239. cashmereand cotton.co.uk
Peponi Hotel, Lamu Island, Kenya Set yourself adrift at the Peponi Hotel, a boutique hotel on beautiful Lamu Island in the Indian Ocean. Enjoy sundowners, dive with dolphins, windsurf and deep sea fish, visit the turtle conservation project or just enjoy the endless pristine beaches. Doubles from approx. £167 per person, per night. peponihotel.com
COOL
ICEHOTEL, Sweden If ice cold weather is your heaven, book an unforgettable trip to ICEHOTEL, where everything including your bed is carved from ice. Dine under the Northern Lights, take a family tour of the wilderness on a snowmobile or meet the local reindeer. Art Suite for two people from £300. icehotel.com
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“A clear-eyed, energetic, forward-thinking school” - The Good Schools Guide
Contact our Admissions team to book your place on an Open Event
Nurturing
Bright Young Minds Since 1584
We are a high-achieving independent co-educational boarding, flexi-boarding and day school situated in the heart of rural Rutland. Oakham offers the ideal environment for boys and girls aged between 10 and 18 to learn, grow and thrive in the modern world.
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To arrange an individual visit online or contact us on 01572 758758 or admissions@oakham.rutland.sch.uk Experience life at Oakham rutland.sch.uk/admissions/ virtual-visit-to-oakham @OakhamSch
@oakhamschool
07/06/2021 09:57
LIBRARY
READ & LEARN Books and apps to feed curious minds
Feisty Tales
Inspirational Stories
Planet Know-How
APP-Y MINDS, APP-Y KIDS
Young Nourished Minds
MUSHY PEAS
St Mary’s Calne girls have created this fun-filled card game to raise your spirits by doing silly things. Play it on the app or print it. mushypeasye.com
AGES 16+
AGES 8+
I Am Not Your Baby Mother Candice Brathwaite shares her journey as a black British mother. Quercus Publishing, £8.99
Arctic Star Tom Palmer writes a WWII naval adventure story inspired by the Navy convoys through the Arctic in language more accessible for dyslexics. Barrington Stoke, £6.99
AGES 16+
The Underground Railroad Colson Whitehead’s fantastic book about runaway slaves is now a knockout Amazon Prime series. Antebellum American fiction at its best. Little, Brown Book Group, £8.99 Dune Get ahead of the big screen release of Frank Herbert’s science-fiction novel set on the feudal, drought-ridden planet of Arrakis. Hodder & Stoughton, £9.99
AGES 4-11
The Sad Skeleton Kay Brophy has created the Finding Your Way series to encourage children to understand and release their emotions instead of bottling it up. Middle Farm Press, £14.99
AGES 7-11
AGES 4-7
Who’s That I Hear? DJ Hill brings children a sleep aid empowering them to find no fear in the things that go bump in the night. Lucky Chicken Productions LLC, £10.35
ALL AGES
A Robot Called B4 Worcester Bosch’s book inspires children to take care of the environment. Two friends travel to the prehistoric era with a friendly robot named B4. Download for free. worcester-bosch.co.uk
Adventure Revolution: The Life-Changing Power of Choosing Challenge Belinda Kirk’s adventure book inspires positive transformation of our physical and mental selves. Little, Brown Book Group, £14.99
The Encyclopedia of Unbelievable Facts Jane Wilsher and illustrator Louise Lockhart discover weird and random facts about space, science, history. Quarto, £17.99
AGES 15+
Who the hell is? Series Jargon-free books talk about the ideas of the world’s greatest thinkers, including Kant, Plato and Melanie Klein. Who the hell is…? £10.99
AGES 12+
ALL AGES
The Deep Blue Charlotte Guillain and illustrator Lou Baker Smith explore the effects of global warming and plastic pollution in an adventure to the depths of the sea. QED Publishing, £12.99
TEENAGERS
AGES 7–9
Temper, Temper Tamarin Focussing on emotional growth, self-awareness and social awareness, Farid Haque’s Talking Up series begins with Tamarin learning to control his anger. Erly Stage Studios Ltd, £6.99
SCHOOL HOUSE REVIEWS AGES 14+
PHOTOS: UNSPLASH
THE COMFORT BOOK, By Matt Haig
Author of the The Midnight Library, Matt Haig brings us yet another triumph. His manual of reflections, essays and vignettes of our stressful world gives the reader consolation and new ways of seeing the world. Haig’s writing is accessible, unique and painfully honest. Canongate Books, £16.99
AGES 16+
A MARVELLOUS LIGHT, By Freya Marske
Step into this historical fiction with Robin Blyth, a young baron whose world is turned upside down by the revelation of a secret magical society. An Edwardian queer love story filled with magic. What more could you want to escape from reality? Tor, £16.99
AGES 16+
CANCEL THIS BOOK, By Dan Kovalik
In this progressive book, the author examines the phenomenon of ‘cancel’ culture, and how its attempt to be inclusive has created a onesided echo chamber of similar opinions. Ultimately he labels ‘cancelling’ as counterproductive and destructive. Hot Books, £18.99
STEP: YOUR WORLD The app that lets you track where you’ve been for your culture fix, delicious dinner or a boujee stopover. stepyourworld.com
MEETUP
Organise, host and find new clubs and kickstart your re-entry into real life through book clubs, sports teams or picnics in the park. meetup.com
NIKE RUN CLUB
Here to get you out of your comfort zone on guided runs of all lengths, types and efforts with fantastic playlists to keep you going. nike.com
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THE GREEN DREAM The exodus from London post-pandemic is a win-win for country prep schools, says Anna Tyzack
Snowshill Village in the Cotswolds
S
many like-minded London families are moving out in our direction,’ ince the pandemic took hold in March 2020, even the most deep-rooted London families have been plotting their escape. continues Lamb, whose two daughters have moved from their London Space and fresh air are now the priority, maintains Annabel primary school to a local prep school. ‘We loved our London life; now Elliott of Jess Simpson Property Search, prompting a scramble we have to drive to shops and school but it’s worth it for the extra space, for large houses with lawns, within reach of good prep schools. the cheaper private school fees and the peace,’ she says. ‘Viruses create a desire for space,’ Elliott explains. ‘A couple of acres Demand for accessible country houses in West Sussex, Kent and and a pool are more attractive than Buckinghamshire has also increased ever, as is an annex in the garden and, according to property finder Ben that can be used as an office and a Horne of Middleton Advisors, rural local prep school with woodland and Hampshire is also more popular than sports fields.’ ever. ‘Hampshire combines stunning The Home Counties, in particular and varied countryside with a addresses within an hour of the capital, significant number of highly regarded have been the obvious destination prep and secondary schools,’ he explains. Village houses around for London leavers who still have to the market town of Stockbridge show their face in the office. Jessie Lamb and her husband John-Paul, on the River Test are particularly who both work in finance, made a snap desirable, he says, where parents have decision to relocate from Wimbledon the option of Farleigh School, plus to a hamlet near Godalming in Surrey the prep and secondary schools of Annabel Elliott, Jess Simpson Property Search this summer, a move they were already Winchester and Salisbury. For parents who are able to work planning, albeit for a few years’ time. ‘The pandemic brought things into perspective – we thought why wait from home for at least half the week, villages in Wiltshire, Gloucestershire when we’re going to do this anyway?’ Lamb says. ‘We are both able to and Oxfordshire, with commute times of less than two hours into work from home two days a week now, so the commute doesn’t seem so London, are also popular. Horne has secured a number of properties within reach of Dauntsey’s School in Market Lavington, Wiltshire, for daunting.’ In less than a month, they sold their four-bedroom Wimbledon home for £1.2 million; their new house cost roughly the same with five example, while the Cotswolds prep schools have been magnets for London bedrooms, an acre of garden and a pool. ‘We’ve been amazed by how leavers, according to Harry Gladwin of The Buying Solution. ‘They can
PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES
‘Viruses create a desire for space. A couple of acres and a pool are more attractive than ever, as is an annex in the garden that can be used as an office and a local prep school with woodland and sports fields.’
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PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES
have London levels of education but with extra space and fantastic sports facilities,’ he explains. Kitebrook and St Hugh’s are popular “Daylesfordshire” prep schools, while Winchester House, Carrdus and The Dragon are good options for those based on the Oxfordshire side. Beaudesert Park draws families living around Cirencester. ‘Cheltenham Prep is also in demand, especially as its the feeder school to the renowned Cheltenham College,’ adds Elliott. She recommends those who are struggling to find a house in Gloucestershire or Oxfordshire to widen their search across the border into Warwickshire. ‘Just being that little bit further away may give a few more properties, a little less competition, and more space for your money,’ she says. Deeper into the West Country, Jo Henry of Jess Simpson Property Search is finding homes for London families who don’t need to be in London on such a regular basis. Around trendy Bruton and Frome they find cheaper house prices and an abundance of top tier schools – prep schools like Hazlegrove, Sandroyd, Hanford, Port Regis and Sherborne Prep for example, and senior schools Kings Bruton, Bruton School for Girls, Sherborne Girls’, Sherborne School and Leweston. ‘The state system also provides good options with Sexeys in Bruton, Ansford in Castle Cary and Gillingham and The Gryphon for those looking to locate in the rolling North Dorset countryside,’ Henry continues. In the stampede to secure a home, it’s important not to overlook fundamental considerations such as commuter routes and school run times, warns Gladwin. ‘Half an hour used to be the maximum travel time, but many families are driving anything up to 45 minutes each way, which is a far cry from walking to school in London,’ he says. As a result, many families are considering moving closer to the school once the frenzy has died down, and inevitably there will be those who find the extra time in the car so odious that they will retreat back to town. What of those left in the capital? There’s an exodus going on there too, says Will Pasquali of Hamptons, from more densely populated areas to leafy neighbourhoods with fast links to the City, such as Clapham Old Town, where there are leading prep schools such as Eaton House and Thomas’s, and the largest houses have gardens with space for a pool and tennis court. There is also a high level of demand for family
homes in the streets bordering Richmond Park, Kew Gardens and Hampstead Heath. ‘We’re seeing a huge appetite for single family homes with large gardens in more village-y locations,’ explains Rory Penn, of Knight Frank’s Private Office. ‘London has retained its position as a safe haven for investment.’ The Lambs are still reeling about their shock move out of town but already Jessie wishes they’d done it sooner. ‘I worried about feeling isolated but our neighbours in Surrey have taken us under their wing,’ she says. ‘I’ve told the girls we can go for a weekend in London whenever they like but so far they’ve been too busy in the pool and playing with our puppy in the garden.’
Students at Winchester House, Brackley, enjoy their toasted marshmallows
More space is a must for many Londoners
Sports day at Farleigh School, Hampshire
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FOOD FOR THOUGHT
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s the drama of the pandemic recedes many parents are grappling with a new fear, latent for some time but now rising to the fore as other worries recede: the ‘tsunami’ or ‘tidal wave’ of mental health problems among young people. Studies vindicate parents’ concern, although the response of young people to the pandemic has varied widely. It does depends on their socio-economic background: unsurprisingly, richer children have fared better. One small 2020 study of 168 children (on average aged ten) in the east of England found an increase in depressive symptoms.1 Research by Professor Viner at UCL published in March 2021, analysing data globally, also concluded that children were showing higher levels of anxiety and depression when schools were closed.2 The deteriorating mental health of young people predates Covid, says Dr Jamie Arkell, a Consultant Psychiatrist at the Nightingale Hospital in London. The decline started with the appearance of social media about ten years ago but as children return to school in force, the vulnerable will be in need of some real help.
Clinical psychologist Dr Carla Croft, who works for several London hospitals including Barts Health NHS Trust says: ‘We are expecting 20 to 30 per cent at least of these children to have some form of diagnosable problem.’ Anxiety and depression are among the most common mental health problems anticipated among schoolchildren. She says it is vital to give them what they need in a time described by psychologists as the ‘recovery’ and ‘restoration’ phases after trauma. ‘They need opportunities to make sense of what has happened to them and then time to reconnect with their peer group and the systems outside their homes.’ One key approach to helping vulnerable children is to connect them with the right networks of supportive mental health professionals, as well as sporting, cultural, religious and musical networks which research suggests protect young people’s mental health. Another approach, and one that parents can help with, is to focus as much on their children’s physical health as their psychological wellbeing. While we all know the importance of exercise, a new approach is to harness the power of food to maximise our mental health and that
PHOTOS: PEXELS
Mental health campaigner Rachel Kelly reviews the science of nutritional psychiatry for happier, betteradjusted kids and Tina Lond-Caulk lays the table
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of our children. Research is gathering pace in this emerging field of ‘nutritional psychiatry’. As around 90 per cent of our serotonin (the hormone that helps us feel happy) is created in our gut, it makes sense that what we eat can alter our brain chemistry. Last June, a study confirmed that oily fish really does improve mood if you are depressed. Research published in Molecular Psychiatry found that when patients with depression were given omega-3s – the healthy fats found in oily fish – they are metabolised into molecules called lipid mediators.3 Levels of these in the blood are linked to an improvement in symptoms. My own research in this area began when my GP recommended oily fish as one of three ‘happy foods’ about six years ago (the other two were dark chocolate – yum – and dark green, leafy vegetables – not so). I learnt that the relationship between mental health and inflammation was first brought to light in 1887 by psychiatrist Julius Wagner-Jauregg, who noticed the effect of fever on psychoses. Since then, new research continues to find that inflammation in both brain and body – including the gut – can affect our mood. An elevated level of cytokines – small proteins found in our cells – has been linked with depression, known as the ‘Cytokine Hypothesis’.4 How then, could I prevent my digestive tract from becoming inflamed? And help my children too? I had had a long-standing battle with severe depression and was literally hungry for any new approach, one answer seemed to be to adopt an anti-inflammatory diet which prioritises good digestive health. I contacted Alice Mackintosh, a nutritional therapist working for a nutritional clinic on London’s Harley Street with degrees in both nutritional therapy and biomedical sciences. With her help, and advice from other doctors, dieticians, and psychiatrists, I began to overhaul my diet completely, and focused on supporting a healthy gut. I learnt that one way to reduce inflammation is to encourage healthy bacteria to flourish in our digestive systems. It is thought that an increase in the levels of unhelpful or ‘bad’ bacteria that emit chemicals can compromise the lining of the intestine, leading to a self-explanatory condition known as increased intestinal permeability, or ‘leaky gut’. This might allow some germs, toxins and small undigested food particles into the blood, leading to inflammation, intolerances and oxidative stress, Mackintosh explains. However, this theory has not
been conclusively proved and more research is necessary. There may also be a link between the bacteria in our digestive systems and anxiety. To nourish my gut flora, I increased the amount of probiotics and fermented foods I ate. A modest portion of creamy yoghurt so thick it stands up in the bowl suits me well. Women given yoghurt containing probiotics were found to have a calmer response to certain stimuli, according to a 2013 study reported in Gastroenterology.5 Equally as important was avoiding antibiotics unless absolutely needed, as well as alcohol, fatty cuts of meat, gluten, burnt food and processed foods. And when it comes to anxiety, sugary foods are like a match to petrol as they contribute to mood swings. By contrast, we and our children need to eat more anti-inflammatory herbs, spices, whole-grains and colourful fruit and vegetables rich in antioxidants. Combined evidence from several recent studies, found that, in general, omega-3s were effective in improving depressive symptoms in both patients diagnosed with depression and depressed patients with undiagnosed depression. Given the evidence, I now aim for three portions per week of oily fish such as tuna, herring, salmon and mackerel for family meals, and plenty of bowls of walnuts (which helpfully look a bit like a brain) as snacks on the kitchen table if your children are vegan or vegetarian. Understanding the links between staying calm and a healthy microbiome have changed my life and have helped my children to stay calm and well too. Alice gave me practical tools in the form of meal planners, and we began to develop recipes for my symptoms. Our conversations and experiments led to our book, called The Happy Kitchen: Good Mood Food which is based on more than 150 nutritional studies. In it, I share in detail how I have learnt to stay calm and well through what I eat, and how this approach has helped my five children. The book includes anti-inflammatory recipes like Flaxseed Pancakes and Salmon Kedgeree that are now staple family favourites. Anti-inflammatory food has made me and my family calmer, less anxious and clearer thinking. Food became my medicine and that of my family’s, part of a toolbox to stay well. It is not the only thing we need to help our children’s mental health, clearly. But it’s a prescription I take seriously, and one that parents might wish to adopt for their children too as they negotiate the challenging months ahead. The Happy Kitchen: Good Mood Food by Rachel Kelly. Rachel-Kelly.net
THE SCIENCE 1 thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/ article/PIIS2215-0366(20)305708/fulltext 2 ucl.ac.uk/news/headlines/2021/ mar/school-closures-riskpermanent-scarring-children 3 kcl.ac.uk/news/new-insight-intohow-anti-inflammatory-effects-ofomega-3-fatty-acids-could-helpreduce-depression
PHOTOS: PEXELS
4 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih. gov/15694227/ 5 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih. gov/23474283/
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TIPS FOR MODIFYING THE MICROBIOME Switch off the stress hormones and switch on the digestive processes by taking some deep breaths before starting to eat – when we are stressed, rushing, distracted, we are in ‘fight or flight’ mode, which means our digestive functioning is on hold. By pausing and focusing on your food before you start to eat, you will trigger the ‘rest and digest’ mode. A few slow, deep breaths is an excellent way to achieve this. Chew, chew and then chew some more! Focus on what you’re eating. Don’t eat while distracted, on the computer or reading and put your knife and fork down between each mouthful so you eat slowly.
MODIFYING THE MICROBIOME
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Nutrition guru Tina Lond-Caulk prescribes a gut-friendly diet
healthy digestive system and, specifically, a healthy gut microbiome (gut bacteria) is fundamental to all aspects of health, including mental wellbeing and inflammation throughout the body. Irrespective of what your symptoms may be, if your digestive system is not working well, the consequences could be far reaching throughout the whole body. Thousands of publications over the past decade have revealed that the trillions of bacteria in the gut could have profound effects on the brain and might be tied to a whole host of disorders. Preliminary work in humans suggests that microbes can trigger or alter the course of conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, autism spectrum disorder, Alzheimer’s and mental health conditions such as depression. Therapies aimed at tweaking the microbiome could help to prevent or treat these diseases, an idea that some researchers and companies are already testing in human clinical trials. What is exciting is that, unlike your genome, your microbiome is
potentially modifiable. A good indicator of digestive health is how well your bowels function. Ideally, you should be having one or two bowel movements daily. The bowels should empty easily and fully without any urgency but equally no straining. Following a bowel movement, you should feel completely empty. Your stools should be gently formed, not hard little pebbles and not so loose that they have no form. If you do not have bowel movements like this, you need to be addressing the environment within the gut. Many people suffer from bloating (distention), especially after eating or at the end of the day and acid reflux/heartburn is also very common. These are signs of digestive problems and should not be considered normal. Bloating is often due to an imbalance or a displacement of gut microbes. If the sugar and yeast living microbes, which inhabit all of us, are overly dominant, they can trigger a wide range of symptoms from skin rashes, thrush, fatigue, brain fog, sugar cravings and bloating or distension. Through following our guidelines, the
Stimulate your vegus nerve – imperative for good digestive function from top to bottom. This nerve allows communication from the digestive tract to the brain and vice-versa. To ensure it is working well, try regular gargling – gargle with water for 2 minutes twice a day; singing loudly and, if you can bear it, triggering the gag reflex as often as possible. A healthy microbiome is also essential for good vagus nerve function. A poorly firing vegas nerve can inhibit all aspects of digestion and absorption as well as healing of the gut wall. Take time to rest, relax, have fun and get plenty of sleep: stress, fatigue, poor sleep and feeling low and/or depressed are all major triggers for IBS, so focus on lifestyle factors as well as diet. Meditating can be challenging but is beneficial and something definitely worth trying. To help, look into mindfulness training/books or try the app headspace.com as this is a great tool to get your meditating on a daily basis. Rest the gut. Try and incorporate regular intermittent fasting in some form, to allow rest and recovery to take place in the digestive system.
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beneficial microbes will become dominant again and allow your digestive function and all its associated systems to work better. Doctors will often diagnose digestive health problems but rarely offer a permanent solution to symptom relief. Improving the condition of the gut lining, the various digestive secretions such as hydrochloric acid in the stomach, enzymes and bile and supporting healthy gut bacteria will significantly improve function. Tina Lond-Caulk, founder of The Nutrition Guru is a clinical nutritionist with over 20 years of experience. She also hosts The Food for Life Programme in schools. Her book The Teenage Health and Wellness Guide £13.95 is available from www.thenutritionguru.co.uk For further gut recipe ideas, visit schoolhousemagazine.co.uk
HOW TO GET THINGS MOVING BETTER Hydration – make sure you are taking in two litres a day of liquids Try including more soluble fibre in your diet, such as apples, oats, nuts, beans and pulses, grains and vegetables Try soaking chia seeds overnight in milk of your choice, and then add fruits and granola in the morning. Move more – make sure you move every day as that stimulates the gut motility (movements enable food to progress along the digestive tract while, at the same time, ensuring the absorption of the important nutrients). If you sit down a lot, get up every 45 minutes Engage in stress-relieving activities, such as deep breathing, stretching, and/ or meditating.
Nutty high fibre bread made from psyllium powder rather than flour aids chronic constipation
GOOD GUT FOODS TO INCLUDE IN A DAILY DIET High quality (long ferment) live natural yogurt for beneficial bacteria. Kefir – a different form of fermented dairy, far higher in helpful bacteria than yogurt and easy to make at home Raw sauerkraut Raw apple cider vinegar. Work up from a teaspoon to a tablespoon in a little water before eating. Use in cooking and salad dressings. Go slowly and aim to include small amounts of different types of fermented foods on a regular basis. Bone Broth – good for improving digestive and immune health, incorporate as often as possible. You can boil up meat bones on a low heat (for at least 12 hours). Always add a glug of apple cider vinegar to help extract the minerals from the bones. Freeze your stock in ice cube trays and use as a drinking broth, or put into soups and stews. Slow cooking meatal is far more digestible and benefical so consider buying a slow cooker. Stewed Bramley apples are a great pudding or breakfast option with amazing therapeutic properties. Just beneath the skins of these apples is a highly soothing and restorative substance. Soaking overnight in water with a little vinegar or lemon juice any grains, pulses, nuts and seeds will greatly reduce irritation and inflammation of the digestive tract. All of these foods contain proteins called lectins, and phytic acid, which are really tough on digestion and trigger inflammation. Freshly ground, soaked flaxseeds and chia seeds are especially beneficial as they produce lots of mucilage, which is very soothing for the gut and helps to ease constipation.
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PHOTOS: ANNABEL HESELTINE
Mountjoy outside Annabel’s treehouse at Fair Oak Farm, East Sussex
WELLBEING
HARNESSING
PEACOCKS
PHOTOS: ANNABEL HESELTINE
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Annabel Heseltine is restored by an ancient forest and an auspicious visitor
ccording to Buddhism teachings the feathers of a peacock can heal a person looking to find harmony and achieve balance in their life; a visit from one is considered auspicious which was why I was so happy to see that Mountjoy, a per fect specimen with outrageously beautiful plumage had taken up residence on the balcony outside my tree house. The stilted wooden house with its vaulted yurt-style round interior with shower and little kitchen was surrounded by leaves, not perched in the trees so much as nestled into a forest as ancient as the hills around it. This was to be my home while I was staying at the award-winning Fair Oak Farm in East Sussex for their ‘reset’ retreat. After caring for four teenagers throughout lockdown, I was, like many mothers, on my knees and much in need of sustenance and re-balance, which is where Fair Oak excels. Fair Oak’s owner, Ian Ledger, who in another life displayed his not inconsiderable design talents refitting places like All Bar One and the Ministry of Sound night club, has been running the beautiful old 16-century Sussex farmhouse, Timeout in an old Balinese hut with its imaginatively restored outbuildings, shepherd huts and tree houses for guests to stay in, as a retreat centre for the past 15 years. Until recently he has been letting it out to yoga teachers and health gurus from across the world who book up months in advance to run their own retreats here, but now he has decided to take some
time back in hand and, with the help of Mary, is running themed retreats four times a year. I was lucky enough to be one of their guinea pigs. The plan was that over three days and two nights, 15 of us would be given yoga sessions, physical training, nutritional talks, a treatment of our choice and fed with delicious nurturing food all designed to help the guests, an array of women, young and old, and one brave man, to relax and rebuild a sense of wellbeing. It was quite a drive from West Wiltshire to East Sussex, however, and I wasn’t sure whether three days would be long enough to ‘reset’. Usually, it takes me at least three days to relax and longer to recharge but almost immediately I noticed that Fair Oak had an unique quality about it. On closer investigation, I discovered that the map of ancient forests and pastures had been set literally thousands of years ago and that there was a magic about the place which infiltrated my nervous system so that I slept more profoundly on my first night than I had in months, nay years. Mary wasted no time in settling us in. The essence of laid-back nurturing was set by lunch cooked by renowned and very sought-after chef Lottie Brook whose food was a sensual delight; healthy, beautifully presented, a riot of gorgeous colours and just completely delicious. I was struck by the red-veined sorrel, green avocado in lettuce parcels, the yellow lentils, aubergine with bright pink pomegranate seeds in tahini and made a mental note not to expect to lose weight on this culinary retreat. Autumn/Winter 2021 | SCHOOLHOUSEMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 135
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Nutritionist, Lucy Sommer, talks to guests about their relationship with food
Indeed, it was something of a relief to discover that there was nothing draconian here at all, no rules and no expectations. The message was come, enjoy what we have and take from it what you want. Yoga lessons given by Kiri in the sunshine on a grassy platform overlooking a luxurious valley inhabited by curious and cuddly alpacas were both yin and yang, the nutritionist was understanding and non-judgemental so that everyone felt completely at ease and able to confess quickly to bottled-up sins and lockdown weight gains. Mary made us feel so much at home that when I confessed to a pathological hatred of physical training stemming from memories of awful Jane Fonda 20th-century workouts when I was ordered to ‘feel the burn’ and was always behind, going in the wrong direction, and red faced from both exertion and embarrassment, she immediately sympathised, reassuring me that I really didn’t need to do it. She was so kind and unthreatening that I felt emboldened to have one more try. Without an ounce of spare flesh on her, Rosie was inspirational and I got to the end of the class rather pleased with myself for stepping outside my comfort zone! So good for one’s mental health. But I was glad to retreat back to my yoga where I felt much more comfortable and to the teak and thatched Balinese hut which I had also found snuggled away in the woods, overlooking the valley and where in the burning heat of a mini-heatwave, serenaded by Mountjoy, secluded in meditative peace and healing bird song, I rediscovered my mojo. Fair Oak Retreat prices from £565pp. The treehouse is £975 s/o. Retreat dates: 2-5 December and 19-21 January 2022. Themes includes yoga, fitness, nutrition, wellbeing. fairoakfarm.co.uk
The Beauty Bar treatment studio at Fair Oak Farm
A Lottie Brook speciality: aubergine, pomegranate seeds and loads of herbs
Lunch in the 16th-century farmhouse is a delicious and communal affair
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WELLBEING
PRESS RESET
Some tantalising treatments to help you reclaim your mojo brought to you by the experts at Queen of Retreats
THE ORIGINAL FX MAYR, Austria
MALABAR RETREATS, Zimbabwe
Gentle and stylish, the Original FX Mayr Health Centre on the banks of the gorgeous blue waters of Lake Wörthersee at Dellach opened in 1976 as the world’s first place to offer the Mayr Cure. There are six qualified medical doctors to guide you through the Cure, lasting from seven to 21 days. Expect daily hikes through the breathtaking surrounding forests, swimming, stand-up paddle-boarding and sunbathing on one of the super-comfy day beds. Open all year round. FROM: €1,550pp for 7 days Basic Mayr Cure, plus from €175 pp/pn accommodation. queenofretreats.com/retreats/the-original-fx-mayr-austria
Running for eight days twice a year in March and November, this glorious retreat from Malabar combines Lu Jong, a form of Tibetan Healing yoga, with meditation, periods of silence, encounters with wildlife and pampering in the lap of luxury. You spend four days at Malabar Zambezi, a private home in the heart of the African bush, and four nights in the stunningly appointed Malabar Hall Harare, set in twelve acres of Msasa forest. FROM: $4,000pp for 8 nights; 5-12 November 2021. queenofretreats.com/retreats/malabar-retreats-zimbabwe
RECLAIM YOUR SELF, Iceland
THE ARRIGO PROGRAMME, Somerset
Reclaim Your Self’s adventures in Iceland on the Troll Peninsula feature twice daily yoga with experienced yoga teachers Adam Hosler (week one) or Jean Hall (week two). You’ll stay in luxury cabins on a farm, surrounded by majestic mountains and endless nature, and be able to enjoy snowy mountain hikes and horse riding and explore the Mývatn geothermal wilderness, where you’ll find volcanoes, fiery fumaroles, huge waterfalls and a nature bath. You might even see the Northern Lights. FROM: £1,295pp for 5 nights. Start dates: 16 or 22 October 2021. queenofretreats.com/retreats/reclaim-your-self-iceland
The Arrigo Programme is the real deal for those feeling depleted or overwhelmed. Acclaimed healer Fiona Arrigo has devised a personalised one-on-one programme for deep rest, recalibration and healing. Clients staying in a private cottage in Somerset are cared and cooked for by their own ‘Angel’ and a therapeutic team offering up to five treatments a day. Programmes for depression, burn out, addiction, bereavement or for couples. You’ll leave unfurled. More affordable Arrigo group retreats are available in the UK and Europe. FROM: £2,500pp for 4 nights mininum. queenofretreats.com/retreats/ the-arrigo-programme-england
Queen of Retreats is an intelligently curated collection of trusted global retreats that have been reviewed honestly, in-depth and with care by a trusted team. For further inspiration go to queenofretreats.com Autumn/Winter 2021 | SCHOOLHOUSEMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 137
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Fettes College, Scotland
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ALUMNUS
WILD GIRL TAMED Kenyan fashion designer Anna Trzebinski remembers her days at Scottish school, Fettes
I
lived the happiest of barefoot African childhoods, free, independent and with almost no parental supervision. I drove myself everywhere, signed for what I wanted at the shops, and at the Muthaiga club, and disappeared into the bush, Friday to Sunday. Nairobi of the early 1980s was our playground, life was good. When I was 15, my mother decided that I needed to attend a British boarding school to drill some much needed ‘finishing’ into me and to drive out the so-called ‘jungle bunny’. I had been educated at the German school in Nairobi so going to Britain was going to be a rude awakening: strict boarding school under ample supervision. My beloved father, Michael Cunningham-Reid, and I set off to figure out which educational institution would accept me. My mother had great designs on the outcome of this education but no idea how we would achieve this miraculous transformation, so he and I were in charge. My father, not being the most practical of men, racked up hundreds of pounds on black cab meters who drove for miles and waited for hours, as we searched for the right school. My favourite was Stowe but because the housemistress at Fettes had spent time in Tanzania and would hopefully relate to this tumbleweed... It was decided that off to Scotland I would be sent. I was filled with such dread but the bar was set for the challenge and I was determined to see out the next two years. Mostly, I was concerned about the weather; the damp, the grey, the cold. How would I manage away from Kenya, my beloved homeland? Once I was signed up all parental guidance fell away again so I was left to manoeuvre uncharted waters without a compass. That alone taught me an awful lot. What can I say about my days at Fettes? A beautiful school with a sterling reputation and rich history, wonderful teachers, amazing extra curricular activities and great kids. And then there was me and a handful of other international fly-ins.
I was among the first girls to be accepted into the newly built girls’ house at Fettes but to soften the landing I thought it wiser to live in digs with a lovely Edinburgh family – the Ushers... and so it began. Circumstance was kind to me: my most treasured teacher took great pride in teaching me Scottish country dancing, something I still love although we never get to practise back home. I made great Anna Trzebinski friends and had a lot of fun. The weather delivered beautifully on the promise of total misery – grey, damp, cold, but on the days when the sun shone it was surely the most glorious place and there were many similarities to home. The wilderness, the desolation in parts, the clan system was so like Kenya where the various families and their ‘clansmen’ are known by their family name – and, of course, the famous Maasai blankets are in fact kilts which the Maasai undid upon being gifted them by Scottish missionaries. Like Kenyans, the Scots know how to party. We attended incredible balls on the Isle of Bute, and I spent my weekends exploring: the borders with my beloved friends, the Mackenzies, or up north in Sutherland, where I felt the spirit of the Vikings. Fettes went way beyond my expectations with the most wonderfully warm, safe, kind, loving environment filled with truly wonderful people. It was not the easiest time of my life and I used to cry my eyes out for days before flying back to Edinburgh, but the entire experience was a huge valuable life lesson in how to endure, adapt and overcome with joy and embrace what is right in front of you, and in that moment. And as for Scotland, well I fell in love with its people, their kindness and the beauty of the land with its rich incredible traditions so deeply that I chose to do my undergraduate MA at Aberdeen. I then moved on to the London School of Economics until the call of the wild eventually led me back home to my beloved Kenya. annatrzebinski.com
‘Fettes went way beyond my expectations... I used to cry my eyes out for days before flying out to Edinburgh, but the entire experience was a huge valuable life lesson in how to endure, adapt and overcome with joy and embrace what is right of you, and in that moment.’
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SCHOOL HOUSE PARTNERSHIP
IS UNIVERSITY THE RIGHT PATH IN 2021? The pandemic has thrown questions surrounding the traditional university route into sharp focus. Oxford Media & Business School prepares its students for direct entry to top corporate firms
‘I
f the last 18 months have taught us anything, it would be that adaptability and flexibility are two skills that students need to develop more so now than ever before,’ says Andrea Freeman, Principal of Oxford Media & Business School. ‘Understanding software packages for learning, online interviewing, and working from remote locations have been propelled to the forefront of our minds as a nation. At OMBS, we have been able to change our course content to reflect the global situation, and ensure that our graduates have the best chance of securing employment once they leave us. We are uncompromising on delivering 21 hours a week of course content, whether that is in person or online.’ As Year 13 pupils across the country count down to the finish line of their senior school education, making a decision about the next step is more crucial than ever before. The traditional route of finishing school and progressing to university has been challenged by the pandemic, and it was widely reported that university students felt isolated and lonely during the last academic year. As an alternative to university, we’re able to
give our students the university lifestyle at our central Oxford accommodation. A robust pastoral system in place means students also have the support they need to excel in their studies during this difficult time. Oxford Business & Media School is a highly sought-after independent college in central Oxford for students (18+) to study the three term Professional Business Diploma. The course specialises in developing skills and knowledge in the areas of business we know employers are looking for: digital marketing, business communications, event management, social media strategy, personal development, advanced IT and office skills are all taught by leading industry experts. The course is made up of 21 hours of classes per week, including time with a personal tutor. We have an unblemished record of course completion, which is something we are incredibly proud of. This is achieved year on year by a dedicated team of tutors, who get to know the students and create an environment where learning is fun and easy. When graduates leave, they benefit from the established and long-standing reputation that the college has, and we work with leading recruitment agencies and top corporate firms to ensure they secure the best employment opportunities. Keeping our course content relevant and teaching the skills needed to excel in the workplace often means that our graduates are at the top of the pile when employers are looking for new recruits. Additionally, presentation training, business plan writing and an in-depth understanding of the Microsoft packages is often far more desirable on a CV than a degree. This is the perfect course choice for ambitious students, who want to enter the professional world of business as soon as possible, and who need the reassurance of a robust pastoral offering.
To find out more about Oxford Media & Business School, please contact the Registrar: sarahb@ oxfordbusiness.co.uk. For details of upcoming Open Days, visit oxfordbusiness.co.uk
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LONDON SCHOOLS
Hockey at Eltham College, London
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LONDON PREPARATORY SCHOOLS
Broomwood Hall Lower School
ADDRESS: Reception & Year 1: The Vicarage, 192 Ramsden Road, London SW12 8RQ | Years 2 – 3: 50 Nightingale Lane, London SW12 8TE WEBSITE: www.northwoodschools.com FOUNDED: 1984 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 320 AGES: Co-ed, 4-8 FEES: Day, £5,820 (21/22). Fees are inclusive of all tuition, lunch, compulsory school trips and most schoolbooks and equipment. HEAD TEACHER: Jo Townsend RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England – but all welcome ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Register, visit and radnom ballot. Year 3 scholarships (for onward places at Northcote Lodge/Broomwood Hall Upper School) CONTACT: The Admissions Team, 020 8682 8830 EMAIL: admissions@northwoodschools.com SCHOOL VISITS: Open morning 8 Oct 2021. Regular Friday tours. Private Visits.
Broomwood Hall Upper School
ADDRESS: 68-74 Nightingale Lane, London SW12 8NR WEBSITE: www.northwoodschools.com FOUNDED: 1984 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 240 AGES: Girls, 8–13 FEES: Day, £7,140 (21/22). Academic & music scholarships worth up to 20% of fees for Year 3 entry (one year at Broomwood Hall Lower). Includes all tuition, lunch, compulsory trips, most books and equipment. HEAD TEACHER: Louisa McCafferty RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England but all welcome ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Selective entry at 8 and 11. Automatic for girls at Broomwood Hall Lower School (if it’s right for them). Academic and music scholarships for 7+ entry (via Broomwood Hall Lower School) CONTACT: The Admissions Team; 020 8682 8810 EMAIL: admissions@northwoodschools.com SCHOOL VISITS: Open morning 8 Oct 2021. Individual tours.
THE CURRICULUM: Broad, modern, and innovative – designed to provide mastery of the building blocks of education in an inclusive, exciting, and enjoyable way. Specialist teaching in arts, sport, music, and French from the off.
THE CURRICULUM: A broad and stimulating mastery approach, with technology used at every level fosters a love of learning and bolsters self-confidence, creativity, and critical thinking, helping girls to maximise their potential.
GAMES & THE ARTS: Emphasis on building confidence, skills, and enjoyment: PE and games five periods per week; competitive matches from Year 3. Weekly art, drama, and music. A multitude of clubs from Year 1 onwards include karate, coding, art, and cookery. Winners of prestigious Gold Artsmark Award.
GAMES & THE ARTS: Wide variety of sports, e.g. netball, hockey, tennis, football, rugby, cricket, cross-country, athletics, and swimming. Exceptionally strong music, art & DT, and drama departments. New art and DT block. Winners of prestigious Artsmark Gold Award. On-site Leiths cookery school.
PASTORAL CARE: We are proud to offer outstanding pastoral care. The school is split between two buildings, a short walk from each other. Each site is small and intimate enough for all children to be well-known to all staff. We have a strong pastoral team which includes learning support, a full time school nurse and a qualified school counsellor.
PASTORAL CARE: We know that happy children thrive academically. With small class sizes, an excellent tutor system and mindfulness and wellbeing programmes built into the curriculum, we pride ourselves on nurturing the whole child and developing individual strengths, so that when girls leave us at 11 or 13, they are happy, well-rounded individuals, academically and socially prepared to tackle the future with confidence.
RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Automatic entry to Northcote Lodge (boys) or Broomwood Hall Upper School (girls). HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: Modern, innovative teaching in a traditional setting delivers an outstanding education that excites, stimulates, and nurtures the whole child. Our five learning powers: curiosity, communication, confidence, independence, and resilience; combined with our mastery approach, equip children with the problem solving and analytical skills they need to succeed in the future. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: An excellent and rounded education that recognises that achievement and success come in many forms and at different stages with happy children who love learning and can move on to the prep stage brimming with confidence. Part of the wider Northwood Schools family delivering outstanding education for ages 4 to 16.
RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: c. 25% of leavers win awards across all areas: academic, drama, art, sport and music. Senior exit schools include a mix of London day (e.g., Emanuel, JAGS, Streatham & Clapham High) and out of town boarding (e.g., Benenden, Wellington, Bradfield) at 11 and 13. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: We prepare for life, not just the next school. Girls are stimulated, supported, and stretched in equal measure and helped to develop the essential skills of creativity, critical thinking, resilience, independence, and confidence that are so important for future success. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: The only all-girls’ prep school preparing for both 11+ and 13+ in SW London. Our combination of traditional values and innovative teaching coupled with an exciting enrichment programme stimulates both breadth and depth of learning. Broomwood girls are happy, confident, rounded individuals who are well prepared for future success. Part of the wider Northwood Schools family delivering outstanding education for ages 4 to 16.
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LONDON PREPARATORY SCHOOLS
Northcote Lodge
ADDRESS: 26 Bolingbroke Grove, London SW11 6EL WEBSITE: www.northwoodschools.com FOUNDED: 1993 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 250 AGES: Boys, 8–13 FEES: Day, £7,140 (21/22). Fees inclusive of all tuition, lunch, compulsory school trips and most schoolbooks & equipment. HEAD TEACHER: Clive Smith-Langridge RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England but all welcome ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Selective entry at 8 and 11. Automatic entry from Broomwood Hall Lower School. Academic and music scholarships worth up to 20% for Year 3 entry available (via Broomwood Hall Lower School). CONTACT: The Admissions Team; 020 8682 8830 EMAIL: admissions@northwoodschools.com SCHOOL VISITS: Open morning 8 Oct 2021. Individual tours.
Northwood Senior
ADDRESS: 3 Garrad’s Road, London, SW16 1JZ WEBSITE: www.northwoodschools.com FOUNDED: 2020 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 140 (capacity) AGES: Co-ed, 11-16 FEES: Day: £7,140 (21/22). All-rounder scholarships worth up to 20% of fees available for both Year 7 and Year 9 entry. HEAD TEACHER: Susan Brooks RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England but all welcome ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Selective. Assessment via digital data and Head’s interview. CONTACT: Tash McDonald, Senior School Admissions EMAIL: nwssenior@northwoodschools.com SCHOOL VISITS: Open morning 8 Oct 2021. Pupil Taster sessions in Sept, Nov & Dec. Private tours.
THE CURRICULUM: Boys thrive in our busy, friendly environment with outstanding teaching that stimulates, stretches, nurtures and develops ‘the whole child’ for entry to top secondary schools at 11 and 13 – both in and out of London.
THE CURRICULUM: Transformative teaching lies at the heart of our modern, stimulating curriculum creating motivated pupils who develop the analytical and problem solving skills that pay dividends in public examinations and the workplaces of the future.
GAMES & THE ARTS: All boys play matches in the major sports. Teams are very competitive even against much bigger schools. Wide-ranging clubs programme includes karate, coding, and spy club. Thriving and vibrant music, drama and art departments with ambitious projects, multiple ensembles, and exciting performances.
GAMES & THE ARTS: Own sports court. Keen to explore both traditional and alternative sports and make use of nearby facilities – e.g. Tooting Lido, athletics track, Streatham Leisure Centre, ice rink and velodrome. Creativity is important: art, DT, drama, coding, and film clubs.
PASTORAL CARE: Our tutor system ensures that each boy has someone looking out for him over and above the care he receives from every staff member. The small and friendly community enables staff and boys to get to know each other well. Parent partnership is actively encouraged, and the headmaster’s door is always open. RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: 2021 Leavers won eight Scholarships: academic (5), sport (2), drama (1). Exit at 11 or 13 to mix of London day (e.g., Emanuel, Dulwich, Whitgift, Alleyn’s) and out of town boarding (e.g., Harrow, Charterhouse, Eton, Wellington, Bradfield). HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: ‘The whole child is the whole point’: academic rigour, a focus on traditional manners, outstanding extracurricular opportunities, holistic pastoral care and most importantly, a school that puts boys’ happiness centre stage to enable them to fulfil their academic potential. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Northcote Lodge really understands how to get the very best out of boys, giving them an outstanding all-round education in a stimulating, yet nurturing, learning environment.Part of the wider Northwood Schools family delivering outstanding education for ages 4 to 16.
PASTORAL CARE: We offer outstanding pastoral care to help each pupil develop the skills required for the challenges of modern life. Wellbeing is built into the weekly timetable and our tutorial system and thematic learning approach ensures that every pupil is well known, with all staff invested in the success and happiness of each child. Our house system ensures that we have built-in both vertical and horizontal support structures. RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Pupils leave at 16 for A-levels, IB or BTECs at another school or specialist sixth form college. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: We are academically ambitious but pastorally supportive. As a new school, we combine the best of modern educational practice with committed, innovative teachers who can transform the educational experience of our pupils so that they can move on to the next stage of their education with confidence and purpose. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: A smaller school that stretches and supports in equal measure; where each pupil is known by all and is part of and contributes not only to the whole school community but the wider community, using local facilities and working with local groups. Dynamic, modern teaching that transforms pupils’ educational experience – with proven measurable impact.
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LONDON PREPARATORY SCHOOLS
Alleyn’s Junior School
We - lleyn's
Nurturing Success At Cameron Vale
V
Alleyn’s Junior School offers co-educational excellence in a caring community for children aged 4-11.
www.alleyns.org.uk 020 8557 1519 | Townley Road, Dulwich, London SE22 8SU
Chelsea's Family Prep School for children aged 2-11
Open from 8am to 6pm 50 week Nursery Holiday Schools Outdoor learning including Forest School Exceptional academic and 11+
Be courageous We’re an outstanding Prep school and Nursery in Blackheath, South East London. Our rich and varied curriculum gives pupils the chance to find their passions and truly shine. September 2022 places: Application deadline 1 November 2021 020 8858 0692 | blackheathprep.co.uk Follow us: @blackheathprep | #BeBlackheathPrep
support programmes Outstanding success rate for first choice Senior Schools
For more information or to speak to Olivia Reeve-Tucker to arrange a tour contact : Cameron Vale School, 4 The Vale, London SW3 6AH 020 7352 4040 | admissions@cameronvaleschool.com
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LONDON PREPARATORY SCHOOLS
Bassett House School
ADDRESS: 60 Bassett Road, W10 6JP WEBSITE: www.bassetths.org.uk FOUNDED: 1947 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 120 AGES: 3-11 FEES: (termly) £3,070 - £6,400 HEAD TEACHER: Kelly Gray RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Non-selective in early years. Priority placement to siblings of current students and children of alumnae. Taster and assessment morning required for pupils in Year 1 and above. CONTACT: Head of Admissions and Marketing or the School Office EMAIL: info@bassetths.org.uk or registrar@bassetths.org.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Virtual open events and open days are held once a month. Personal tours are offered upon registration for a place. Regular invitations to additional events are sent to all registered to join us.
Chepstow House
ADDRESS: 108a Lancaster Road, Notting Hill, London W11 1QS WEBSITE: www.chepstowhouseschool.co.uk FOUNDED: 2010 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 384 AGES: 2-13 FEES: (termly) £3,395 (Nursery); £7160 (School) HEAD TEACHER: Angela Barr RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Register from birth for nursery and reception intake. Informal assessment for 7, 8, 11 and 13+ entry. CONTACT: Linda Farrow, School Administrator, 020 7243 0243 EMAIL: info@chepstowhouseschool.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Tours available on request.
THE CURRICULUM: We boast a rich and bespoke curriculum across the school which is flexible to achieve for the best outcomes of our pupils across a variety of subjects taught by specialist teachers.
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: Our specialist PE and sports teachers encourage pupils to try a host of activities and games from introduction to team sports. Music, drama and art are also taught by specialist teachers and allow for pupils to express themselves with confidence across a spectrum of media.
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: No child is unknown of at Bassett House. We have a SENCO on staff, and through weekly whole staff meetings, every staff member is aware of each child and their needs at Bassett House. We encourage children to voice their concerns and have built a culture of care that is exhibited by every staff member.
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.
RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Total of 7 Scholarships and over 70 places offered to top senior schools in London. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: There’s no bigger privilege than enabling staff and pupils to experience the magic of childhood learning. We blend tradition with innovation and champion the arts alongside academic rigour to develop rounded individuals. I take the gift of leadership seriously, ensuring the relationship between Family Bassett and our families is cherished. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Bassett House School is a unique, small school nestled in leafy Notting Hill, London. Boasting robust and child-centred provision in newly-renovated Bassett Bear House and a highly successful Prep School Curriculum, we are small enough to be bespoke, yet big enough to thrive.
RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: 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)
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Broomfield House School
Girls enjoying success!
ADDRESS: 10 Broomfield Road, Kew Gardens, TW9 3HS WEBSITE: www.broomfieldhouse.com FOUNDED: 1876 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 180 AGES: 4-11 FEES: (termly) £2,570 - £5,210 (including lunch) HEAD TEACHER: Susie Byers RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Non-selective, date of registration but with sibling priority, Pre-Kindergarten is the main point of entry. CONTACT: Dale Cash, Head of Admissions EMAIL: admissions@broomfieldhouse.com SCHOOL VISITS: Contact Dale to arrange a private tour
THE CURRICULUM: A curious child will never be bored, and we offer a stimulating environment to help them discover what interests them. We prepare children for their future with skills which allow them to lead a life full of potential and make a positive impact in the world. GAMES & THE ARTS: Specialist teachers for art, drama, music and sports, Spanish and computing. Games includes swimming and covers both individual pursuits and team-based games. There are many opportunities to perform in musicals, plays and concerts on our stage. Our art studio is filled with light and we encourage children to freely express their ideas. PASTORAL CARE: Our staff support children in identifying the things that give them joy and to focus on these as a way of fostering a positive and optimistic attitude to life. We encourage children to appreciate their individual attributes as well as those of their peers. They are directly involved in building community through our pupil council and activities to bring children together across year groups. Our pastoral care and happiness programmes allow us to check on how our children feel and constantly review how to support them.
JUNIOR SCHOOL Open Days 2021
RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Destination schools for 2021 class include City of London, Emanuel, Godolphin & Latymer, Hampton, Kew House, Kingston Grammar, Putney High, Radnor House, St Paul’s Girls and Surbiton High.
4+ ENTRY
Please book your visit at channing.co.uk/admissions INDEPENDENT DAY SCHOOL FOR GIRLS AGED 4-18
Highgate, N6 5JR
channing.co.uk
HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: Curious Learners. Independent Thinkers. Happy Children. This is Broomfield’s aim for the children in our care. They need to be happy and have fun in school so they are open to learning. We are a family and work together to encourage curiosity, creativity, courage and most importantly of all, kindness. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Broomfield House benefits from a longstanding relationship with Kew Gardens, London’s world-leading botanic gardens. A forward-thinking, broad curriculum taught by experienced teachers with a teacher:pupil ratio of 1:8. An extended enrichment offering with a range of before, during and after school activities. A strong sense of community grounding children in the values that make school a safe, happy place. An individual learning enhancement programme brings a bespoke focus to the learning journey. Generous play spaces and modern facilities: art room, music studio, theatre, gym, dining room and a new IT lab.
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LONDON PREPARATORY SCHOOLS
Chiswick & Bedford Park Preparatory School
Dolphin School
Inc Noah’s Ark Nursery School
ADDRESS: Priory House, Priory Avenue, Chiswick, London W4 1TX WEBSITE: www.cbppschool.co.uk FOUNDED: 1915 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 161 AGES: 3-11 FEES: (termly) £2,625 – £5,020 HEAD TEACHER: Henrietta Adams RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Non-selective in the early years, priority placement to siblings of current students. Places offered from Form 1 upwards after a taster morning and academic assessment. CONTACT: School office, 020 8994 1804 EMAIL: info@cbppschool.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Individual and group tours available weekly. Several open mornings annually. Contact the office to arrange with the Registrar.
ADDRESS: 106 Northcote Road, London SW11 6QW WEBSITE: www.dolphinschool.org.uk FOUNDED: 1986 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 200 AGES: 2-11 FEES: (termly) Nursery £2,095; Reception, Years 1 and 2 £4,295; Years 3–6 £4,695 HEAD TEACHER: Sam Gosden RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Christian ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Reception class, early registration recommended; Year 1–6, assessment day and past school reports CONTACT: Vivienne Benson; 020 7924 3472 EMAIL: admissions@dolphinschool.org.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Please contact the Admissions Registrar
THE CURRICULUM: We offer a full and rich curriculum combining the traditional academic subjects with the more creative and physical elements of school life. Our enthusiastic and dedicated teaching staff work hard to motivate pupils and to foster within them a love of learning.
THE CURRICULUM: Our small class sizes enable us to get to know your child extremely well so that we can not only set specific individualised academic targets, but also discover how they learn best. We prioritise English and maths, also focusing on interactive science classes, colourful geography lessons, whole-school Spanish and history often leads to outings to the real thing.
GAMES & THE ARTS: The school has imaginative drama, dynamic art, and vibrant music departments, with a wide range of sports and extracurricular activities. Enriching and challenging opportunities encourage independent thinkers. PASTORAL CARE: We value highly the pastoral care which we give, and are proud of the warm, nurturing ethos of the school. In addition to guiding pupils to high academic achievement, our programme of learning celebrates personal strengths, builds confidence from an early age and recognises the importance of self-esteem. We encourage our pupils to develop a sense of self discipline, responsibility and courtesy, as well as sensitivity to the needs of others. RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Frances Holland, St Benedict’s, Kew House, Notting Hill & Ealing High, St Augustine’s. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: We provide a unique village school environment where the children are encouraged to develop intellectual curiosity and achieve academic success within a nurturing atmosphere. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: From 2023, CBPPS will come together with neighbouring Orchard House School to form a new premier prep school for Chiswick under the Orchard House name. A seven-figure redevelopment both schools’ facilities is underway. The new school will include full refurbishment of all classrooms and learning spaces; brand-new STEAM centre (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Maths); a student wellbeing space; sports facilities at the Old Actonians Sports Ground and Rocks Lane featuring football, cricket, rugby and hockey pitches, netball courts, all weather pitches for lacrosse and a sports field. Alongside this will be three natural, ergonomic outside spaces with extra playground areas.
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. PASTORAL CARE: We are committed to giving both time and care to grow your child’s character on their journey from reception to year six. 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: Alleyn’s, Box Hill, Caterham, Christ’s Hospital, Dulwich College, Eaton Square Senior, Emanuel, Epsom College, Farnborough Hill, Francis Holland, Frensham Heights, Hurstpierpoint, Ibstock Place, James Allen’s Girls’ School, Kew House, King’s College Wimbledon, Northwood Senior, Priors Field, Royal Russell, St John’s Leatherhead, Streatham and Clapham High, Thomas’s Battersea Square, Trinity, Whitgift, Woldingham, Worth School. 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: With a combination of nurture and dynamism and the passionate commitment of the staff Dolphin School provides a fantastic all-round education. One of the Sunday Times’ top 50 prep schools.
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School House OFS Ad.pdf
LONDON PREPARATORY SCHOOLS
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Hawkesdown House School
For Boys & Girls aged 2 to 11 years C
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27 Edge Street, Kensington, London W8 7PN Telephone: 0207 727 9090 Email: admin@hawkesdown.co.uk www.hawkesdown.co.uk
Sarum Hall School
OPENING DOORS
Old Vicarage School IAPS School for girls aged 3 to 11 years
To your future
LITTLE VIC PRE SCHOOL - LIMITED PLACES AVAILABLE WE AIM TO FULFIL YOUR DAUGHTER’S POTENTIAL AND EXCEED YOUR EXPECTATIONS
“The quality of the pupil’s academic and personal development is excellent” ISI Educational Quality Inspection June 2019
Located in the heart of Belsize Park, Sarum Hall is a modern and successful school with a focus on each pupil as an individual; pupils are and encouraged to achieve excellence. Natural talents and enquiring minds are nurtured, allowing girls to explore new examination success; the foundations laid at Sarum Hall last a lifetime. Means-tested bursaries are available for a limited number of pupils.
Headmistress: Miss. V. Savage 15 Eton Avenue, London, NW3 3EL Tel: 020 7794 2261 Sarum Hall School
admissions@sarumhallschool.co.uk www.sarumhallschool.co.uk
• Two form entry in small classes up to 15 • Excellent academic standards with a rich, challenging curriculum & a wide range of sports, drama & music • Girls develop into confident, articulate individuals • We successfully prepare for 11+ with most achieving their first choice schools • After school care available up until 6pm For more information about the school, or to book a tour on our forthcoming open morning, please contact the Registrar on 020 8940 0922 or email f.murdoch@oldvicarageschool.com
Old Vicarage School, 48 Richmond Hill, Richmond, Surrey TW10 6QX www.oldvicarageschool.com
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Devonshire House Preparatory School
Eaton Square Preparatory School
ADDRESS: 2 Arkwright Road, Hampstead, London NW3 6AE WEBSITE: www.devonshirehouseschool.co.uk FOUNDED: 1989 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 600 AGES: 2½-13 FEES: (termly) £3,290 to £6,825 HEAD TEACHER: Stephanie Piper RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Early Years entry by informal, group, play-based assessment. Years 1 to 7 assessment/taster morning CONTACT: Helen Ridard, Head of Admissions; 020 7435 1916 EMAIL: admissions@dhprep.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Contact admissions to arrange a tour or attend one of our termly open mornings; dates advertised on the website
ADDRESS: 55-57 Eccleston Square, London SW1V 1PP WEBSITE: www.eatonsquareschools.com FOUNDED: 1981 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 330 AGES: 2-11 FEES: (termly) from £7,230 HEAD TEACHER: Trish Watt RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: For Reception entry, an informal assessment takes place, usually in the November of the prior-planned entry year. For other year groups, an occasional place system is operated. Candidates are assessed in Maths and English, plus interview. CONTACT: Ann-Kathrin Potesta, Registrar; 020 7225 3131 EMAIL: registrar@eatonsquareschool.com SCHOOL VISITS: Private tours and meetings with the Headmistress and/or Principal can be arranged via emailing the registrar.
THE CURRICULUM: There is specialist teaching from reception in many subjects and the older children receive a broad and challenging curriculum leading to common entrance and scholarship. ‘Pupils are highly motivated in their learning.’ (ISI report).
THE CURRICULUM: Eaton Square Prep School provides a stimulating, rigorous academic programme supporting each pupil to fulfil their potential in all areas of the curriculum. This is based on the National Curriculum and achieves exceptional 11+ and 13+ Common Entrance results. Subject coordinators, class teachers and subject specialists work together from the core curriculum to build an exciting teaching programme which differentiates to accommodate the learning style and ability of each child.
GAMES & THE ARTS: PE and games play an integral part in our overall timetable, as do music and art. Providing solid foundations in a variety of sports: football, netball, rugby, cricket, athletics, and dance. Dynamic, busy music and drama departments, with performances at all ages. Art and DT buzzing with creativity. PASTORAL CARE: Small class sizes, friendly, inviting, safe and happy place to learn. We listen to the ‘child’s voice’ with observation and tracking. Children know they can come to teachers who will listen to pupils’ issues and give the necessary tools for children to feel more equipped to deal with future situations. Strong relationships with children and parents alongside an ethos of family values. RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: DHS pupils win scholarships to a wide range of day and boarding schools every year. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: We seek to offer a high quality education whilst ensuring that the emotional needs of our children are also met. We aim for their development into confident, caring individuals with a passion for learning, initiative and a sense of responsibility for others and for the world around them. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Outstanding pastoral care enables pupils to feel part of the Devonshire House family. With plenty of opportunity to develop interpersonal skills and for children to discover their own strengths and talents. ‘Pupils leave the school as confident, resilient young people who have strong self-esteem and a well-developed understanding of how to improve their own learning.’ (ISI Report)
GAMES & THE ARTS: For a London school, sport provision is particularly strong at Eaton Square – notably in the swimming pool where the School remains reigning IAPS Champions. Music is a valued, integral part of the curriculum with many opportunities for children to perform throughout the year. Roughly 70% of pupils take 1-1 music tuition. The Art and Design rooms are colourful, enriching and superb for encouraging creative self-expression. PASTORAL CARE: The wellbeing of every pupil is a fundamental priority at Eaton Square. Their pastoral support has been rated ‘Excellent’ by all recent ISI inspections. Pupils are exceptionally well cared for and monitored closely by class teachers, tutors, heads of year, heads of house and senior leadership. The on-site counselling service provides support to pupils, parents and staff. RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: 25 scholarships offered in 2021 (academic and art). Schools included: JAGS, Francis Holland, Alleyn’s, Queen’s College, Cheltenham Ladies College, Emanuel, Queen’s Gate and St Mary’s Calne. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: We ignite a passion for learning in our pupils, exposing them to a broad curriculum, dynamic classrooms and opportunities to discover who they are and what place they wish to take in the world. Our nurturing ‘home from home’ environment is underpinned by core values of ‘POISE’: perseverance, ownership, integrity, service and empathy. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Alongside academic excellence, it is an accredited Tedx Centre. Year 5&6 pupils audition, rehearse and perform on Tedx’s global platform – achieving 5 million+ views last year! The new Performance Theatre supports this with staging, lighting and surround sound. An official ‘Silver Eco-School’ with pupil-driven Eco Comittee.
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LONDON PREPARATORY SCHOOLS
Open Events for Years 3, 4 and 5 (ages 7 - 9) entry Please visit the Admissions section of our website to book a place for one of our Autumn Open Events. Find out more about our holistic approach to education from the Master, Head of the Junior School and members of staff, including the many opportunities in Sport, Drama, Music and Art. All applications to Year 3 are automatically considered for Academic Scholarships. The offer of a place in the Junior School is the offer of a place at Dulwich College to age 18. Visit www.dulwich.org.uk/admissions or please call the Junior School Registrar on 020 8299 8432. We look forward to hearing from you.
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Eaton House The Manor & Eaton House Belgravia Nursery Schools
ADDRESS: 58 Clapham Common Northside, London SW4 9RU & 3-5 Eaton Gate, Belgravia, London SW1W 9BA WEBSITE: www.eatonhouseschools.com FOUNDED: 1993 & 2017 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 64 in total AGES: 2–4.5 FEES: (termly) from £610 for one afternoon to £3,495 for five mornings. Costs vary with time slots. HEAD TEACHER: Roosha Sue (EHTM); Katie Bostelmann (EHB) RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational, Christian ethos ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Non-selective CONTACT: Sam Feilding, Head of Admissions, 020 3917 5050 EMAIL: sfeilding@eatonhouseschools.com SCHOOL VISITS: Book Open House tours online at eatonhouseschools.com, or via admissions@EHTM.co.uk
Eaton House The Manor Pre-Preparatory School
ADDRESS: 58 Clapham Common Northside, London SW4 9RU WEBSITE: www.eatonhouseschools.com FOUNDED: 1993 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 510 (Pre-Prep & Prep) AGES: 4-8 FEES: (termly) £6,010 HEAD TEACHER: David Wingfield RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational, Christian ethos ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Non-selective at age 4, older children may be subject to assessment. CONTACT: Sam Feilding, Head of Admissions, 020 3917 5050 EMAIL: sfeilding@eatonhouseschools.com SCHOOL VISITS: Book Open House tours online at eatonhouseschools.com, or via admissions@EHTM.co.uk
THE CURRICULUM: Our nurseries are a constant hive of activity where children are happy, busy and curious to learn. Every child is challenged at their own level in a kind and caring atmosphere and the sky is the limit. Individual and small group work allows both nurseries to constantly 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.
THE CURRICULUM: We teach boys in an active and inspiring way, accelerating their learning by leaps and bounds. 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. Learning is highly academic, exploratory, and above all, fun! Boys love learning by doing and the curriculum is very varied.
GAMES & THE ARTS: At the Manor, large wooden blocks and sand and water develop fine and gross motor skills, with free flow out into the playground that allows children to play in an inviting space. At Belgravia, children enjoy a dedicated, educative environment in a wonderful mansion house nursery. All children take part in our annual Nativity and throughout the year we also have smaller performances.
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 boosting impact on all-round academic performance, all seen as fundamental in developing communication skills and confidence.
PASTORAL CARE: ‘Pastoral care is extremely strong, 100% rated it excellent or good’ – Cappco. Each child is supported and encouraged, gaining independence and confidence. When children leave our nurseries they are fully prepared for school at 4+. This allows them an easy transition to Eaton House Belgravia Pre-Prep and Eaton House The Manor Pre-Prep. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: Roosha Sue: ‘My philosophy for our nursery is for every child to settle in, be happy and treated as unique. Our pastoral care is second to none. We hope that all of our Cubs and Bears are excited and curious to learn through being exposed to a variety of experiences, from cooking, yoga and pottery to languages. Our children leave school-ready, confident and eager to continue their learning journey.’ Katie Bostelmann: ‘I believe that Nursery should be a ‘happy place’ where children have the freedom to explore and discover. They should be encouraged to take risks to achieve their full potential.’ OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Easy transition to Eaton House The Manor Pre-Prep for the boys and Eaton House The Manor Girls’ School for the girls. At Belgravia, boys are well prepared for Eaton House Belgravia Pre-Prep and girls can choose Eaton House The Manor Girls’ School. We empower children to be happy, independent and curious learners. We aim to have your child completely ‘school ready’. Children are unique and so is their learning journey. Part of Eaton House Schools, which is in turn part of the Dukes Education family.
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. Teamwork is encouraged along with a healthy competitive spirit. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: Eaton House The Manor Pre-Prep’s Cambridge-educated Headmaster, Mr David Wingfield, joined the school in September 2020. A mathematics specialist, he has been hailed as one of ‘the most motivated teachers’ that Tatler Schools Guide (2021) has ever met and he is passionate about early years education and maths mastery, which is also known as the Singapore method. He has many exciting plans for the school in the years ahead, which will result in an even fuller and more action-packed curriculum and pupil-led learning. He is a strong believer in wellbeing as the foundation of academic achievement and has set to work empowering the staff and pupils to develop their leadership skills at every level of school life. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Boys transition easily to Eaton House The Manor Prep School, where a number of boys win scholarships every year. Boys are taught to be kind, considerate, thoughtful and mannerly and to always strive to do their best, both academically and personally. We offer the perfect blend of traditional values with a forward-thinking education. All our learning is active. Part of Eaton House Schools, which is in turn part of the Dukes Education family.
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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: 260 AGES: 4-11 FEES: (termly) £6,010 (KG to Y3); £7,020 (Y4-Y6) HEAD TEACHER: Oliver Snowball RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational, Christian ethos ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Non-selective at age 4; English & Maths assessment for older girls. CONTACT: Sam Feilding, Head of Admissions, 020 3917 5050 EMAIL: sfeilding@eatonhouseschools.com SCHOOL VISITS: Book Open House tours online at eatonhouseschools.com, or via admissions@EHTM.co.uk
THE CURRICULUM: ‘Teaching is highly effective in promoting pupils’ excellent progress and attainment.’ (ISI Report). A relaxed but highly stimulating classroom environment promotes intellectual curiosity. Academic exploration and risk-taking are two essential ingredients in Eaton House The Manor Girls’ teaching. 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 Good Schools Guide (2021) says the headmaster ‘wants to be sure that each girl is treated as a special and unique individual.’ He says: ‘At Eaton House The Manor Girls’ School we believe that when girls are happy they are more effective learners and more confident participators.’ Pastoral care is about understanding and supporting each individual child. The house system, excellent form teachers and visible senior management team all combine to ensure that each girl feels supported in her learning. RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: In 2021, the girls received an outstanding 17 Scholarships and Awards to JAGS, Putney High, Roedean, Streatham and Clapham High, Wimbledon High and Woldingham. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: The Good Schools Guide (2021) says: ‘Mr Snowball seems to have hit the ground running with his vision for the school.’ He says: ‘I want each of the girls to have an adventure at school, to feel they are known, nurtured, encouraged and challenged and I want our school to inspire a genuine love of learning.’ OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: There is a ‘sky is the limit’ approach to learning – anything is possible. Each girl is treated as a confident individual so that she can blossom academically, socially and behaviourally, ready to take on the world. The school aims to develop the girls spiritually, morally and intellectually, producing intelligent, kind and socially aware girls. Part of Eaton House Schools, which is in turn part of the Dukes Education family.
Eaton House The Manor Prep
ADDRESS: 58 Clapham Common Northside, London SW4 9RU WEBSITE: www.eatonhouseschools.com FOUNDED: 1993 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 510 (Pre-Prep & Prep) AGES: 8-13 FEES: (termly) £7,215 HEAD TEACHER: Sarah Segrave RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational, Christian ethos ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Non-selective for internal candidates, 8+ for external candidates. CONTACT: Sam Feilding, Head of Admissions, 020 3917 5050 EMAIL: sfeilding@eatonhouseschools.com SCHOOL VISITS: Book Open House tours online at eatonhouseschools.com, or via admissions@EHTM.co.uk
THE CURRICULUM: The Good Schools Guide (2021): ‘This is a school with excellent academic outcomes, good value added – and consequently one of really high expectations.’ We believe passionately in the benefits of single-sex education. We do everything we can to nurture every boy to achieve his senior school of choice. Offering a curriculum adjusted to fit boys’ developmental stages, interests and strengths, we create the best start for each boy. GAMES & THE ARTS: Sport is an integral part of life at school, whether boys are representing the school or their House, or simply learning to be part of a team. Nearly 75 per cent of our boys play a musical instrument and every boy has weekly drama lessons. There are many plays and musical events in the school – all to a high standard and greatly enjoyed by parents. PASTORAL CARE: We know the boys, share their highs and lows, and are there for them in every way. Pastoral care is intrinsic in all we do, the fundamental cornerstone of the school. Our form tutors and established house system provide the structure for pastoral care, but attention to detail from the staff ensures the care is outstanding. Every boy is supported at EHTM. RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: An impressive number of scholarships in 2021, including 13 Scholarships and Awards including an Academic Exhibition at Westminster and the Cowdrey Sports Scholarship at Tonbridge. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: The Good Schools Guide (2021) comments that Mrs Segrave ‘lives and breathes Eaton House’ having worked in the Eaton House Schools Group since 1993. She asks her staff to consider every single day whether they have made a difference. She feels that: ‘A school is a place where children grow intellectually and emotionally, guided by teachers who are determined that children succeed and are happy.’ OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Academically outstanding. Many generations of boys go to Eton, Westminster, St Paul’s, Dulwich, Tonbridge, Harrow, King’s College Wimbledon, Winchester, and all pupils receive offers to an excellent range of schools. EHTM is one of the top four feeder schools for Westminster and the only one of these that is non-selective at 4+ entry. ‘The pupils demonstrate an outstanding natural courtesy’ (ISI Report). ‘Everyone is so happy and so encouraging’ (Zach, Year 8). Part of Eaton House Schools, which is in turn part of the Dukes Education family.
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Eaton House Belgravia Pre-Preparatory
ADDRESS: 3-5 Eaton Gate, Belgravia, London SW1W 9BA WEBSITE: www.eatonhouseschools.com FOUNDED: 1897 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 240 AGES: 4 – 8 FEES: (termly) £6,895 HEAD TEACHER: Huw May RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational, Christian ethos ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Non–selective at age 4, older children may be subject to assessment. Co-educational Nursery 2-4. CONTACT: Sam Feilding, Head of Admissions, 020 3917 5050 EMAIL: admissions@EHTM.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Book Open House tours online at eatonhouseschools.com, or via admissions@EHTM.co.uk
THE CURRICULUM: Our curriculum is designed to offer our boys a breadth of experience and prepare them for examinations to the highest academic standards through their individual learning plan. GAMES & THE ARTS: Sport and arts are central to our philosophy, as we want the boys to be very creative and fulfilled. PE lessons, offsite games and swimming sessions help develop key sports skills. A wide range of performance opportunities enable boys to share their talent. Drama and music are popular, and there are many after-school clubs and extra-curricular trips to make every day action-packed and interesting, with new things to try and learn. PASTORAL CARE: This is a happy school, full of energy, fun and laughter. Wellbeing is central to the school’s philosophy and the staff ‘know their boys and care for them.’ Good Schools Guide (2021). Our buddy system helps integrate new boys into the school from the beginning and the house system provides another layer of support. Teamwork is encouraged, alongside healthy competition. Form teachers ensure the boys’ emotional development is supported. Parents are encouraged to pick up their son and talk to teachers. RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: EHB Pre-Prep School is a Westminster and St Paul’s feeder, with an impressive number of 7+ and 8+ boys receiving offers in 2021. Boys received offers to other top schools, including Westminster Cathedral Choir School, King’s College Junior School, Eaton House Belgravia Prep, The Dragon School and Summer Fields. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: The Good Schools Guide (2021) says Mr May is ‘ambitious for his school, shows vision and is full of enthusiasm for developing each boy’s all-round potential, emotionally as well as academically.’ He asks that boys are ‘intelligent, articulate, self-aware, kind, considerate and that they look after each other’. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: We achieve some of the most outstanding 7+ and 8+ pre-prep results in London, with an impressive number of 7+ and 8+ boys receiving offers in 2021. Highly Commended in the Boys’ School of the Year category in the Independent School of the Year Awards. We offer a blend of traditional values with a forward-thinking education using personalised learning plans agreed with the boys. Our ‘open door’ policy means parents are fully involved. Part of Eaton House Schools, and Dukes Education family.
Eaton House Belgravia Preparatory
ADDRESS: 3-5 Eaton Gate, Belgravia, London SW1W 9BA WEBSITE: www.eatonhouseschools.com FOUNDED: 2017 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 240 (Pre-Prep and Prep) AGES: 8-11 FEES: (termly) £7,640 HEAD TEACHER: Huw May RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational, Christian ethos ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Non-selective for internal candidates, 8+ for external, Maths and English assessment CONTACT: Sam Feilding, Head of Admissions, 020 3917 5050 EMAIL: sfeilding@eatonhouseschools.com SCHOOL VISITS: Book Open House tours online at eatonhouseschools.com, or via admissions@EHTM.co.uk
THE CURRICULUM: Eaton House Belgravia takes on the baton from Eaton House Belgravia Pre-Prep, which prepares boys for 7+ and 8+ examinations. The Prep takes boys at age 8 and prepares them for the 11+ examination. Our 2021 results reflect our credentials as an ambitious and aspirational school showing a wide representation of senior schools, including offers from Westminster Under, Dulwich College and Merchant Taylor’s School. 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 will learn to play a musical instrument and all the boys also have art lessons. PASTORAL CARE: Pastoral care is intrinsic in all we do, the fundamental cornerstone of Eaton House Belgravia Prep. Our Form Tutors and wellestablished 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. Every boy matters and is noticed. 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 to look after each other. Boys will thrive in a school which makes personalised learning important and focuses on each boy’s potential. We want all the boys to develop a lifelong love of learning and a real appetite for study and to have fun! OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Prep boys to sit 11+ exams as another option to 7+ or 8+ exams in the Pre-Prep. Eaton House Belgravia won a Highly Commended in the Boys’ School of the Year category in the Independent School of the Year Awards. The teacher: pupil ratio is outstanding, with boys receiving an exceptional degree of personal input towards exam preparation. The boys brim with academic confidence and are fully prepared for 11+ examinations. Part of Eaton House Schools, which is in turn part of the Dukes Education family.
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LONDON PREPARATORY SCHOOLS
Hawkesdown House & The Walnut Tree Nursery
ADDRESS: 27 Edge Street, Kensington, London W8 7PN WEBSITE: www.hawkesdown.co.uk FOUNDED: 2001 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 70/130 AGES: 2-11 FEES: (termly) £4,600-£6,700 HEAD TEACHER: Jenny Mackay RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational, Christian ethos ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Register from birth for nursery and reception intake. Informal assessment for entry into Years 1 and above CONTACT: Sophie Zazzarino, School Secretary and Admissions; 020 7727 9090 EMAIL: admin@hawkesdown.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Please contact the school office if you would like to visit and meet the Headmistress THE CURRICULUM: A broad, balanced curriculum, with excellent teaching, to encourage a love of knowledge and independent thinking, ‘Top-notch across the whole breadth of the curriculum.’ GAMES & THE ARTS: Sport, music and drama are all carefully integrated into the school week, to develop a wide mix of talents and interests, and for a happy and varied day. PASTORAL CARE: Pastoral care at the school is outstanding. The whole ethos of the school is of kindness, individual attention and very close links with parents: ‘Hawkesdown is the warmest, friendliest, most loving school we have come across in London.’ SENIOR EXIT SCHOOLS: Pupils go on to King’s College School, St Paul’s Junior, Sussex House, Summer Fields, Westminster Cathedral Choir, Westminster Under and a range of other schools in London and elsewhere. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: The school is a safe place where people are kind, considerate and capable, and where a child can start school life happily and make early friends with confidence. A place of fun, purpose and success providing an excellent education, inspiring and challenging the mind and the imagination. In a world that is changing at an accelerating rate, we concentrate on knowing each child and understanding what is important to every family. Parents are fiercely loyal to this philosophy, it is borne out in excellent results and in the open, thoughtful and happy children. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Hawkesdown provides outstanding education with individual attention for every pupil and excellent outcomes, including for the pupils’ next school entry. Parents and staff are devoted to the school, and prospective parents are always most welcome to visit.
Heathside School Hampstead
ADDRESS: 84a Heath Street, Hampstead, London NW3 1DN WEBSITE: www.heathsideprep.co.uk FOUNDED: 1995 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 235 AGES: 2-13 FEES: (termly) £5,601 to £6,464 HEAD TEACHER: Katherine Vintiner RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Non-academically selective. Children invited for a taster day and school requests last two school reports. CONTACT: Admissions Department; 020 3058 4011 EMAIL: admissions@heathsideschoolhampstead.com SCHOOL VISITS: School tours are held weekly during term time for all year groups and open days held termly. Ad hoc tours can be arranged by appointment. THE CURRICULUM: We are dedicated to supporting each student to develop into a confident, independent learner. We pride ourselves on setting high academic standards. We have a proud tradition of tailoring our teaching so that every child gets the best from each lesson. With a high staff-to-student ratio, our focus is on small group work. GAMES & THE ARTS: We run a range of clubs and activities for different age groups including: art, athletics, chess, Chinese, choir, code club, creative movements, dance, debating, drama, fencing, gymnastics, Model UN, science. Our sport teachers are specialists who coach a range of team sports including football, cricket, rounders, basketball and netball. PASTORAL CARE: The wellbeing of all pupils at Heathside is of paramount importance. At Heathside, pupils are supported to develop healthy and happy friendships with their classmates and peers. Class teachers ensure that their pupils receive the support they need to make the most of opportunities on offer inside and outside the classroom. If a class teacher has any concerns about any pupil’s wellbeing, they will call on the experience and expertise of Heathside’s dedicated teams to provide the appropriate support. RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Westminster, Frances Holland, Haberdashers’ Aske’s, Channing, South Hampstead High School, North Bridge House, Emanuel. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: Encourage the development of the whole person. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: The school is set in the centre of historic buildings in the heart of Hampstead. Heathside is a few minutes walk from Hampstead Heath, where the children play at lunchtimes. A village school with a global community, Heathside welcomes families from across the world. Partnerships with local businesses, including fresh lunch supplied by the independent café next door.
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LONDON PREPARATORY SCHOOLS
Hurlingham Nursery
Hurlingham School
ADDRESS: The Old Methodist Hall, Gwendolen Avenue, London SW15 6EH WEBSITE: www.hurlinghamschool.co.uk FOUNDED: 1947 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 100 AGES: 2-5 FEES: £3,175 (Nursery 5 sessions) £5,150 (Nursery 5 full days). We offer the 15 or 30 hours Universal Funding to those who are eligible. HEAD TEACHER: Daisy Robertson RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Register from birth. CONTACT: Fiona Driver, Admissions Registrar, 020 8874 7186 EMAIL: admissions@hurlinghamschool.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Please contact the school to arrange an appointment.
ADDRESS: 122 Putney Bridge Road, Putney, London SW15 2NQ WEBSITE: www.hurlinghamschool.co.uk FOUNDED: 1947 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 330 AGES: 4-11 FEES: Lower School (Reception to Form II) £5,975, Upper School (From III to Form VI) £6,185 HEAD TEACHER: Simon Gould RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Non-selective. CONTACT: Fiona Driver, admissions secretary, 020 8874 7186 EMAIL: admissions@hurlinghamschool.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Please contact the school to arrange an appointment.
THE CURRICULUM: Hurlingham School’s Nursery offers outstanding provision for girls and boys aged 2-5 in a cutting-edge setting on Gwendolen Avenue in west Putney. The final year emphasises all aspects of school readiness to give children a flying start to their formal education. It includes a one day per week Forest School option.
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: Music, drama and sport are all co-ordinated by specialist staff. The children enjoy regular music, movement, yoga, karate and outdoor learning, including Forest School.
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.
PASTORAL CARE: ‘Pupils are exceptionally well cared for. The school has excellent arrangements in place to ensure that pupils are safe at all times. The school is a kind place where adults are extremely caring and pupils are considerate towards others. A pupil summed this up by commenting, “children are kind and we share what we have with one another.”’ Ofsted, February 2018. RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Exit Schools: Hurlingham Nursery provides an excellent foundation for all children with a particular teaching and learning focus to prepare pupils for learning on the school’s main site on the Putney Bridge Road. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: Nursery provision at Hurlingham fosters and develops children’s interest in the world around them through initiating a life-long love of learning and academia. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: An idyllic, small school with large classrooms and lots of scope for self-expression in a nurturing, academic setting. In addition to the three terms in the academic year an additional 16 weeks of holiday club are offered to allow parents to opt in for specific weeks required, without having to financially commit to a full 50 weeks a year. (This excludes a 2-week period over Christmas and Bank holidays outside).
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. RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Surbiton High, Lady Eleanor Holles, Kingston Grammar School, Notre Dame, Woldingham, Epsom College, Ewell Castle, St Paul’s Girls’, Emanuel, Whitgift, Wimbledon High School. 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.
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LONDON PREPARATORY SCHOOLS
Ibstock Place Prep School
ADDRESS: Clarence Lane, London SW15 5PY WEBSITE: www.ibstockplaceschool.co.uk FOUNDED: 1894 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 140 boys, 140 girls AGES: 4-11 FEES: £5,705 – £5,870 per term HEAD TEACHER: Christopher J Wolsey RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Registration in the academic year preceding entry, followed by assessment. CONTACT: C Voysey, The Registrar, 020 8392 5803 EMAIL: registrar@ibstockplaceschool.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Please contact the Registrar for guidance
THE CURRICULUM: Our curriculum is forward-looking, challenging and dynamic. Small class sizes and the skilful deployment of specialist teaching allows our pupils to make rapid progress against their peers. The superb and beautiful facilities of the School add lustre to our provision, as does the extensive programme of co-curricular provision. GAMES & THE ARTS: The expressive arts feature prominently and art, drama, music and dance are handsomely provided for, but so too is sport. We want our pupils to draw from the widest possible pool of experience. PASTORAL CARE: Our pastoral care is second-to-none. Our pupils feel safe and secure, never lost nor left behind. We value the home-school link and invest real time in getting to know our families. When we work in concert, we can be truly transformative. Together, we can create a joyful childhood which will last a lifetime. RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: External applicants for 7+ (Prep 3) entry and upwards who are offered a place for September 2022 following successful completion of the assessment procedure, will be granted an automatic right of progression to the Senior School at 11+. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: Our Prep Department shares its aims with the Senior School: foremost is a desire to unlock that which is most special within each of our pupils. We want our young people to develop the knowledge, skills and, most importantly, the character which they shall need to flourish. Ibstonians aspire to curiosity, independence and ambition. They are self-disciplined but creative, confident yet compassionate. More than anything, they enjoy the extraordinary opportunities which we can provide for them and they turn their experiences to good use. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: A nurturing start in stunning greenery with delightful play spaces. The Senior School’s extensive facilities – Refectory, swimming pool, sports pitches – are all on the doorstep.
North Bridge House
ADDRESS: Nursery & Pre-Prep, 85-87 Fordwych Road, NW2 3TL | Nursery, 33 Fitzjohn’s Ave, NW3 5JY | Pre-Prep, 8 Netherhall Gardens, NW3 5RR | Prep, 1 Gloucester Ave, NW1 7AB WEBSITE: www.northbridgehouse.com FOUNDED: 1939 NUMBER OF PUPILS: Nursery & pre-prep, 315; prep, 465 AGES: 2-13 FEES: (yearly) £8,145 – £20,520 HEAD TEACHER: Christine McLelland, James Stenning RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Families 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: Open events are held throughout the year. Please check our website for more details: northbridgehouse.com THE CURRICULUM: Sensory, practical and social experiences inspire a love of learning during NBH pupils’ formative years. The EYFS curriculum includes specialist teaching in French, music and dance – with a resident storyteller – encouraging confident and creative expression. Outdoor curriculum continuation accelerates student growth and development of critical thinking skills. Throughout the pre-prep and prep school, pupils delve into subject specific areas - including computing, languages (Italian, Latin, Mandarin, Spanish) and sport – and prepare for senior school entrance examinations. GAMES & THE ARTS: Sport is essential to pupil wellbeing and development. Disciplines range from traditional track and field to more contemporary yoga and street dance. Regent’s Park is the school’s playground, which hosts sporting fixtures. The arts are key to both the curricular and extra-curricular offering with exhibitions, plays and concerts. The school boasts five choirs, an orchestra, and several brass bands, and pupils achieve highly in LAMDA. PASTORAL CARE: From timetabled Philosophy and Forest School to vegetable planting and school pets, the school promotes children’s personal and emotional development. All staff are committed to cultivating character and nurturing confidence, and pupils thrive on a strong sense of belonging and security within the small tutor groups and warm community. Happiness is the key to successful learning and the impressive results speak for themselves. RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Pupils are placed at leading senior schools with academic, art, music and sports scholarships. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: NBH provides a tailored co-education, celebrating high-achieving pupils in a mixed ability environment. Knowing the individual and developing strength of character, allows pupils to achieve academic success. With specialist teaching and extra-curricular opportunities, we challenge children to fulfil their true potential, providing a foundation for their future studies, careers and lives. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: All NBH pupils can transition from Nursery through to Sixth Form without the pressure of entrance exams while focusing on personal development. KS1 pupils perform in the top 5% of the country for English and maths. NBH works closely with families to choose the right school for their child according to their individual strengths and interests.
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LONDON PREPARATORY SCHOOLS
Prospect House School
Orchard House School
ADDRESS: 75 Putney Hill, London, SW15 3NT WEBSITE: www.prospecths.org.uk FOUNDED: 1993 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 310 AGES: 3-11 FEES: (termly) £3,160 – £6,585 HEAD TEACHER: Michael Hodge RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Non-selective in early years. Places offered from Year 1 after taster morning and assessment in Maths and English. CONTACT: School Office or Head of Admissions EMAIL: registrar@prospecths.org.uk / info@prospecths.org.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Personal tours are held ad hoc during the week. Weekly group tours on Fridays. Two open mornings a year. Contact Head of Admissions to book on registrar@prospecths.org.uk.
ADDRESS: 16 Newton Grove, London, W4 1LB WEBSITE: www.orchardhs.org.uk FOUNDED: 1993 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 260 AGES: 3-11 FEES: (termly) £3,160 – £6,585 HEAD TEACHER: Kit Thompson RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Non-selective in the Early Years with priority placement given to siblings of current students. Places offered from Form 1 upwards after a taster morning and academic assessment. CONTACT: Contact the Registrar EMAIL: registrar@orchardhs.org.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Weekly individual and group tours. Several annual open mornings. Contact the school office to arrange with the Registrar.
THE CURRICULUM: A rich and varied curriculum with the focus on giving the children the tools to become independent thinkers and learners.
THE CURRICULUM: Tailor-made specialist teaching opens up young minds to endless possibilities, encouraging them to think creatively and form their own ideas. In addition to guiding pupils to high academic achievement, our programme of learning celebrates personal strengths and builds confidence from an early age.
GAMES & THE ARTS: A fully inclusive ‘sports for all’ ethos with an emphasis on teamwork and technique. The choirs, orchestra and ensembles resonate in the halls of the school. 12 peripatetic teachers catering for all instruments. PASTORAL CARE: The children’s wellbeing is at the centre of everything that we do at Prospect House. Building relationships with children and parents creates a warm, happy and supportive environment. Every child is given a voice and the opportunity to talk to an adult, including 1:1 with an in-house Level 2 counsellor. RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Westminster, St Paul’s Girls, King’s College, Lady Eleanor Holles, Hampton, JAGS, Wimbledon High, Kingston Grammar. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: To treat every child as an individual and create an environment where all children will have the opportunity to reach their potential. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Excellent results with a focus on individuality. All achievements are celebrated. High expectations. Transparency and warmth.
GAMES & THE ARTS: Orchard House offers a wide spectrum of activities which encourage self-expression and the development of talents outside the classroom, including sports, music and drama. OHS recently won the prestigious TES award for sport. PASTORAL CARE: Pastoral care comes first. Children blossom when they feel secure, happy, and valued. OHS puts huge store on pastoral care to ensure every pupil gains the confidence to achieve their best. Each child has a Pupil Pastoral Plan where they can note any private worries so teachers may monitor their happiness and wellbeing. Our buddy system helps newcomers through their early days, and we encourage older children to mentor younger pupils. RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Destination Schools include Godolphin & Latymer, St Paul’s, Westminster, Frances Holland, Putney High, King’s College HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: I hold a deep belief that children are at their best when they feel safe, happy and are inspired to try their very best every day. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Seven-figure redevelopment of Orchard House is underway. The new school will include: full refurbishment of all classrooms and learning spaces; brand-new STEAM centre (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Maths); student wellbeing space; sports facilities at the Old Actonians Sports Ground and Rocks Lane featuring football, cricket, rugby and hockey pitches, netball courts, all weather pitches for lacrosse and a sports field; three natural, ergonomic outside spaces with extra playground areas.
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LONDON PREPARATORY SCHOOLS
Kew College
ADDRESS: 24-26 Cumberland Road, Kew, Surrey TW9 3HQ WEBSITE: www.kewcollege.com FOUNDED: 1927 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 296 AGES: 3-11 FEES: (termly) Nursery, £2,525; Kindergarten to Year 6, £4,400 HEAD TEACHER: Jane Bond BSc MA (Ed) PGCE RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Children must be registered as soon as possible after birth CONTACT: Michelle Warburton, 020 8940 2039 EMAIL: registrar@kewcollege.com SCHOOL VISITS: Please contact the registrar to arrange a visit or to attend an open morning
THE CURRICULUM: The importance of English, maths and science is emphasised at the school, but within a broad curriculum. This includes art, drama, French, 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, Christmas and Spring concerts, as well as several school choirs, an orchestra, string and wind groups and music technology. PASTORAL CARE: The welfare and happiness of the children is of primary importance to us. This was highlighted in the ISI Inspection report of October 2019 which concluded that ‘the quality of the pupils’ personal development is excellent.’ The school holds regular wellbeing days for its pupils. RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Year 6 pupils this year were awarded 37 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 of October 2019 rated the personal development of the pupils as ‘excellent’. In the ISI Regulatory Compliance Inspection of November 2016 the school was deemed to have met all of the ISI standards, with no action points. Well-resourced ICT facilities. Residential week in France for Year 6 pupils. Excellent teaching with a creative flair. Forest school in Autumn term for Kindergarten.
Knightsbridge School
ADDRESS: 67 Pont Street, London SW1X 0BD WEBSITE: www.knightsbridgeschool.com FOUNDED: 2006 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 424 AGES: 4-16 FEES: Upper seniors 9 to 11, £7,770; upper seniors 7 to 8, £7,430; senior 4 to 6, £7,360; junior, 1-3, reception & nursery, £6,932 HEAD TEACHER: Head: Shona Colaço, Principal: Magoo Giles RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational hurch of England ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Assessment in the previous year to entry; non-academically selective. CONTACT: Mary Caldecott-Smith, Registrar, 020 7590 9006 EMAIL: m.caldecott-smith@knightsbridgeschool.com SCHOOL VISITS: Tours take place every Tuesday and Wednesday at 9am for juniors and Thursday at 9am for seniors. Please call to book.
THE CURRICULUM: Knightsbridge School delivers an all-round and allthrough education up to GCSE, ensuring students are equipped to pursue any path they choose in the future. Over the course of the pandemic KS has provided an extensive online education, including 38 extra-curriculars delivered virtually. A KS parent says, ‘Based on what you hear other schools are offering, we are just on another planet here at KS.’ GAMES & THE ARTS: We attend over 300 matches per year as well as parent vs staff role modelling matches. We excel in gymnastics, dance, fencing, ballet and performing arts. For example, we have students performing on the West End in Les Misérables and School of Rock and another in a Netflix production. We have over 60 extra-curricular weekly clubs, allowing our students to expand their curiosity beyond just the academics and experience robotics, horse riding, lacrosse and many other choices. PASTORAL CARE: KS is a positive and high-energy family, the school runs timetabled wellbeing and personal reflection sessions each week through PSHE lessons and form time to try maintain it and deal with issues as soon as they arise. KS has continued whole community support during the pandemic, with weekly wellness tips and activities to keep our minds creative and bodies healthy. KS celebrates Mental Health Week: the children practice secret acts of kindness and have in a whole-school yoga session. KS is the first independent day school to introduce children’s mental health counselling service, Place2Be, and have raised funds to gift a year of this service to local school, Ashburnham Community School. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: ’Work hard, play hard’ is the motto. Mr Magoo expects everyone to do their best, embrace a healthy body and mind, give and share, and to realise how lucky they are at all times. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: At KS there is an ecosystem of happiness between the children, staff and parents cultivated through open communication. We are proud of our diverse extra-curricular programmes, events, trips and visiting speakers which lead to lifelong learners outside the classroom. KS gives back to the local community, through our Global Goals Projects, which saw students sending letters about positive eco-change to the Kensington and Chelsea council, and our KS Education Foundation bursaries, providing outstanding education throughout students’ entire school career.
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LONDON PREPARATORY SCHOOLS
Ravenscourt Park Prep
Kew Green Preparatory School
ADDRESS: 16 Ravenscourt Avenue, London W6 0SL WEBSITE: www.rpps.co.uk FOUNDED: 1991 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 420 (210 boys, 210 girls) AGES: 4-11 FEES: (termly) £6,120 for all ages HEAD TEACHER: Carl Howes MA (Cantab) PGCE RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Register from birth. Entry by ballot; priority given to siblings. Thereafter, candidates are invited to meet with the Headteacher. CONTACT: Charlie Hayden, 020 8846 9153 EMAIL: secretary@rpps.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Open events: 15 Sept 2021, 7 Oct 2021, 9 Oct 2021
ADDRESS: Layton House, Ferry Lane, Kew Green TW9 3AF WEBSITE: www.kgps.co.uk FOUNDED: 2004 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 280 (140 boys, 140 girls) AGES: 4–11 FEES: £6,120 per term, all ages HEAD TEACHER: Jem Peck RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Non-selective at four years old CONTACT: Michelle Wadsley, 020 8948 5999 EMAIL: secretary@kgps.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Open mornings 15th Sept 2021, 6th Oct 2021 and 3rd Nov 2021
THE CURRICULUM: Our curriculum far exceeds the national average in both breadth and depth and has been carefully crafted to enable each child to fulfil their individual potential. As a non-selective and inclusive school, we take pride in motivating and developing every child, bringing out individual talent, realising abilities to the full and instilling a lifelong love of learning. In its 2016 ISI Inspection report, RPPS was judged ‘Excellent’ in all categories.
THE CURRICULUM: Our curriculum far exceeds the national curriculum in both breadth and depth. Highly differentiated lessons are delivered to nurture creativity and collaboration, resilience and determination whilst also developing a strong sense of self-confidence in every child. We embrace technology in our educational approach to all subjects which invariably produces excellent academic results. In its 2015 ISI inspection report, KGPS was judged Excellent in all categories.
GAMES & THE ARTS: We offer a plethora of opportunities for our pupils to immerse themselves in music, the arts and sport. Our pupils participate in competitive sporting fixtures, perform in regular concerts and events, or learn an instrument. Pupils frequently take part in external competitions.
GAMES & THE ARTS: We have strong art, music, drama and sports departments as any visitor would realise immediately. All our children compete, perform and enjoy the exceptional standards we achieve in these areas.
PASTORAL CARE: The pastoral care and well-being of our children is paramount. Our ‘open door’ policy reflects a genuine partnership between teachers and parents – the family atmosphere is noticeable when you visit. RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Latymer, Hampton, Queen Anne’s Caversham, St Benedict’s and King’s College Wimbledon. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: At RPPS, laughter and learning go hand in hand and we ensure that the years with us are happy, successful and fulfilling for each and every child. Our pupils engage in the excitement of learning and develop the confidence to question, analyse and express their opinions. They leave at the end of Year 6 ready to make the most of the opportunities ahead of them, both at their senior school and in later life. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: RPPS is a thriving school, situated on Ravenscourt Park. We pride ourselves on our excellent pastoral care and believe that learning should be limitless. All our children from Year 3 to Year 6 take part in residential weeks which help to develop teamwork, resilience and perseverance. This is in line with our belief that children should develop a ‘growth mindset’ approach to their learning where taking on challenges and learning from mistakes is encouraged.
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. RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Hampton, Tiffins, Francis Holland, Notting Hill and Ealing, Putney High, Surbiton High, Wimbledon High, Aldenham, Emanuel and Radnor House. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: Children thrive in an environment that 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 in a peaceful corner of Kew Green. It is flanked by the River Thames and the Royal Botanical Gardens which we use regularly along with the green itself. 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.
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LONDON PREPARATORY SCHOOLS
Founded in 1977 Founded in 1977
“10 minutes from Chelsea” “10 minutes from Chelsea ” 3-6 year olds International Bilingual Pre-Primary school for International Bilingual Pre-Primary school for 3-6 year olds
Creative Creative and and structured structured learning learning from from the the earliest earliest years years OFSTED 2020 Report: “Outstanding in all categories” OFSTED 2020 Report: “Outstanding in all categories” TEL. 020 7371 8350 • admin@lecoledespetits.co.uk • www.lecoledespetits.co.uk TEL. 020 7371 8350 • admin@lecoledespetits.co.uk • www.lecoledespetits.co.uk 2 HAZLEBURY ROAD, FULHAM, LONDON SW6 2NB 2 HAZLEBURY ROAD, FULHAM, LONDON SW6 2NB
Founded in 2005 Founded in 2005
“5 minutes from Chelsea” minutes from Chelseaschool ” International Bilingual“5Pre-Primary and Primary for 3-11 year olds International Pre-Primary and Primary school for 3-11Français year olds leading on toBilingual top English and French schools, including Lycée leading on to top English and French schools, including Lycée Français
In In Tatler’s Tatler’s Top Top 225 225 Private Private Schools Schools list, list, 2009-2021 2009-2021 OFSTED 2018 Report: “Outstanding in all categories” OFSTED 2018 Report: “Outstanding in all categories” TEL. 020 7371 8350 • admin@lecoledespetits.co.uk • www.lecoledespetits.co.uk TEL. 020 7371 8350 • admin@lecoledespetits.co.uk • www.lecoledespetits.co.uk TROTT STREET, BATTERSEA, LONDON SW11 3DS TROTT STREET, BATTERSEA, LONDON SW11 3DS 160 | SCHOOLHOUSEMAGAZINE.CO.UK | Autumn/Winter 2021 SchoolH_LecoleDesPetits_FullPage_225x298_JUNE_2021.indd 1
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LONDON PREPARATORY SCHOOLS
The Mall School is a happy, nurturing and inspiring environment for boys aged 4 to 11 in Twickenham
BOOK YOUR INDIVIDUAL TOUR WITH OUR HEADMASTER TODAY www.themallschool.org.uk
2021 11+ offers to 20 independent and grammar schools including: Epsom College, Hampton, Kew House, King’s College School Wimbledon, Kingston Grammar, Latymer Upper, Radnor House, Reed’s, St James & St Paul’s Juniors Non-selective for entry at Reception; assessment for other years Small class sizes with focus on each boy’s potential Morning and afternoon minibus service from Kew, Richmond, Kingston, Osterley and Sunbury Wraparound care from 7.30am to 6.00pm including extensive extra-curricular offering
Bringing out the best in every boy
185 Hampton Road, Twickenham TW2 5NQ • 020 8614 1082 admissions@themallschool.org.uk • www.themallschool.org.uk
“Our son is thriving. The progress he has made both academically and pastorally has been magical.” Current parent
#whywelovehornsby
#Sparking Imaginations
To visit our school, call 020 8673 7573 or visit www.hornsbyhouse.org.uk Hearnville Road, SW12 8RS Telephone 020 8673 7573 school@hornsbyhouse.org.uk
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LONDON PREPARATORY SCHOOLS
Notting Hill Preparatory School
A small traditional Pre-School, Pre-Prep and Prep School providing outstanding education for children aged 2 to 13
ADDRESS: 95 Lancaster Road, Notting Hill, London W11 1QQ WEBSITE: www.nottinghillprep.com FOUNDED: 2003 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 380 AGES: Reception to Year 8 FEES: (yearly) £21,924 HEAD TEACHER: Sarah Knollys RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: NHP is non-selective. We do not assess our pupils prior to entry in reception and they are mixed ability throughout the school CONTACT: Suzanne Shaheen, Registrar; 07518 577973 EMAIL: admissions@nottinghillprep.com SCHOOL VISITS: Book with the registrar to visit the school, meet our Headmistress and go on a tour. Virtual tour available on our website. THE CURRICULUM: The curriculum includes the statutory framework of the national curriculum. It has been extended to reflect the particular ethos of the school and will continue to be developed in response to children’s needs. GAMES & THE ARTS: We offer football, netball, rugby and hockey and cricket in the summer term. This year we have added the new sports: volleyball and handball. There is a strong swim squad. Music, art and drama flourish with most of our pupils playing an instrument and all of our children involved in our drama productions.
“It’s been an amazing experience for our son and we really appreciate the holistic approach to learning” Parent 2020
Visit us on our
OPEN DAY
16 September 2021 9:15-10:30 www.thehampshireschoolchelsea.co.uk
PASTORAL CARE: We try to give the pupils strategies and skills to help with the social complexities of life, both inside and outside the classroom. We are here to help them at each stage of their journey. As headmistress, Mrs Knollys oversees the wellbeing and pastoral care of all children at NHP. The deputy head (pastoral) works closely with staff, the school counsellor, the school nurse, the form teachers, the SENCos and the playground staff to provide wrap-around pastoral care for all children at NHP. RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: This year NHP pupils won several scholarships including art and academic to senior schools. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: The headmistress strongly believes that children thrive where they are happy and in a nurturing environment – kindness, courtesy and concern for others are key themes at NHP and we look to bring out the best in each of our pupils during their time with us. We are a thinking school and through our learning habits and values, we ensure that NHP pupils develop key life skills alongside academic ones. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: NHP is an inclusive, creative and vibrant school where every child is nurtured to reach their full potential. We are a thinking school dedicated to honing and enhancing teaching practice within the School and we offer academic rigour without losing the joy of childhood.
15 Manresa Road, Chelsea, London SW3 6NB
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LONDON PREPARATORY SCHOOLS
Wetherby Senior School
Autumn Term Open Mornings Friday 24th September 2021 Friday 5th November 2021
9am - Arrival and Coffee | 9.30am - Head’s Welcome Talk 10am - School Tours Book your place at: www.milbourneloge.co.uk/admissions
Year 3 Entrance Assessment (for September 2022 entry)
Saturday 20th November 2021
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Register now for Reception Entry in September 2022 Milbourne Lodge offers a traditional, very personalised education for energetic, bright pupils in pursuit of excellence. The school motto says it all really – “ad optima petenda”, in other words, “strive for excellence”‘Outstanding in All Areas’ -
ADDRESS: 100 Marylebone Lane, London W1U 2QU WEBSITE: www.wetherbysenior.co.uk FOUNDED: 2015 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 420 AGES: 11–18 FEES: (termly) £8,670 HEAD TEACHER: Joe Silvester RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Boys enter at Year 7, Year 9 or Year 12. Entry is by competitive examination CONTACT: Kathryn Easthope, Registrar EMAIL: registrar@wetherbysenior.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: An open day is taking place on 2 Oct 2021 from 10.00am to 2.00pm. Visitor mornings are held throughout the year. Booking is required. 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 boys’ development and wellbeing, and is a compulsory activity for all boys at Wetherby Senior School. The main sports are rugby, football, cricket and tennis with other activities available. Music, Drama and Art are strong with many concerts, exhibitions and dramatic productions held 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 boys’ resilience to cope with challenges, the ability to reflect and the willingness to contribute positively to their community. UNIVERSITY PLACES: Boys are successful in achieving places at their first-choice university, including: Bath, Bristol, Cambridge, Durham, Exeter, Imperial, LSE, Manchester and UCL amongst other universities in the UK and abroad. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: Our goal is to provide an outstanding all-round education, supporting our pupils to achieve academically and to develop as people, fully preparing them to meet the challenges of being a young man in the 21st century and ready to contribute to the communities in which they live.
www.milbournelodge.co.uk
Arbrook Lane, Esher, Surrey KT10 9EG
OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: At Wetherby Senior, we pride ourselves on our outstanding teaching and excellent pastoral care that nurtures the boys as individuals. Philosophy is embedded in the curriculum from Year 7 to develop independent thinking and creativity. Boys leave Wetherby Senior well-rounded and prepared for the challenges of the modern world.
T: 01372 462737 E: registrar@milbournelodge.co.uk
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LONDON PREPARATORY SCHOOLS
PRIVATE TOURS NOW AVAILABLE Contact us to arrange a visit
Register here: www.lyndhursthouse.co.uk/tour 0207 435 4936 office@lyndhursthouse.co.uk 24 Lyndhurst Gardens, Hampstead, London, NW3 5NW
PREPARING FOR TOMORROW’S WORLD STARTS HERE .
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www.newtonprepschool.co.uk
@NewtonPrepSch
# WhyWeGoToNP
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LONDON PREPARATORY SCHOOLS
Prince’s Gardens Preparatory School
ADDRESS: 10-13 Prince’s Gardens, London SW7 1ND WEBSITE: www.princesgardensprep.co.uk FOUNDED: 2020 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 150 AGES: 3-11 FEES: (termly) Pre-reception, £6,310; reception, Year 1 and 2, £7,400; Year 3 – 6, £7,860 HEAD TEACHER: Alison Melrose RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: None ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Open day, Register, Personal Tour and Assessment CONTACT: Ceri Christensen-Jones, Admissions Manager; 020 7591 4620 EMAIL: admissions@princesgardensprep.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Open days and personal tours are available. For more information, please contact admissions@princesgardensprep.co.uk
St Philip’s School
ADDRESS: 6 Wetherby Place, London SW7 4NE WEBSITE: www.stpschool.co.uk FOUNDED: 1934 NUMBER OF PUPILS: Approx. 100 AGES: 7-13 FEES: £6,050 per term HEAD TEACHER: Alexander Wulffen-Thomas RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Roman Catholic, welcomes all faiths ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Register from birth, entry by assessment CONTACT: Fi Kaye, Registrar; 020 7373 3944 EMAIL: f.kaye@stpschool.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Please contact the Registrar to arrange a tour or to attend one of our open days
THE CURRICULUM: Our curriculum is driven by academic excellence and a passion for learning. Equally important is the broad and engaging enrichment programme, delivering opportunities for every child to experience a wide range of clubs, activities, sports and trips; to make friends, share ideas and build self-confidence.
THE CURRICULUM: A broad and liberal curriculum which prepares pupils well for the ISEB Common Pre-Test, Common Entrance and scholarships, integrated within a broad introduction to three pillars – artistry, discovery and civic structure – of some of the great civilisations of world history.
GAMES & THE ARTS: Prince’s Gardens boasts a two-acre garden for exploration and play. Hyde Park is close by for games and Imperial College’s swimming pool is next door for PE. There are dedicated spaces within the school for expressive learning, including art, music and drama. Regular opportunities for children to perform include recitals, plays and end of term concerts.
GAMES & THE ARTS: The school makes full use of its facilities at Barn Elms where the boys take part in a variety of sports two afternoons a week including: cricket, rugby, hockey, athletics and cross-country. Music is an intrinsic part of school life, and there is a strong choral tradition. Plenty of extra-curricular activities are available, with a wide variety of clubs on offer from cricket and fencing to ornithology and astronomy.
PASTORAL CARE: Small class sizes and a kind environment mean that children are nurtured and feel confident to approach their teachers. We build close relationships between home and school to make sure any small worries do not grow to be larger concerns. It is our responsibility to know every child, to support their journey through school and ensure that they flourish and grow.
PASTORAL CARE: Pastoral care is particularly strong with excellent individualised support in a caring environment with a strong Catholic ethos. Parents often say that the school feels like an extended family.
RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Scholarships available for 7+ and 8+ entry.
HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: We are a Catholic school and our patron Saint Philip is the patron saint of happiness, joy and humour. Whether it be in the classroom, at our vast games fields by the side of the Thames, or in our wonderful garden back at base, we put fun at the heart of everything we do. Our boys work hard, and are well-taught within a bespoke and broad liberal curriculum. They leave Saint Philip’s aged 13 ready for the next stage of their education at some of the leading schools in the country.
HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: We want our little learners to enjoy coming to school, where they can flourish to become confident young people, ready to embrace every new challenge. At Prince’s Gardens our pledge is to ensure that your child is prepared for everything. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: A secret two-acre garden, state-of-the-art science labs and the makerspace, an innovative learning environment that encourages children to develop ideas, collaborate and problem solve. Access to Hyde Park and outstanding facilities including Imperial College’s Ethos sports centre. World class museums are a 5-minute walk allowing for regular immersive learning experiences London truly is our classroom.
RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Eton, Harrow, City of London, Charterhouse, Worth School and Ampleforth.
OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Inspirational teaching in a warm and nurturing environment that delivers exceptional results. Leavers go on to: City of London, Dulwich, Eton, Harrow, KCS Wimbledon, St Paul’s, Westminster, Winchester.
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LONDON PREPARATORY SCHOOLS
St Anthony’s School for Boys
St Anthony’s School for Girls
ADDRESS: Junior School: Reception to Year 3: St. Anthony’s School, NW3 6NP; Senior School: Year 4 – Year 8: St. Anthony’s School, NW3 6AA WEBSITE: www.stanthonysprep.org.uk FOUNDED: 1893 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 310 AGES: 4-13 FEES: Per term, £3,842 - £5,098 HEAD TEACHER: Richard Berlie, MA (Cantab) RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Roman Catholic / all faiths welcome ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Academically selective including interviews and tests. CONTACT: Adriana Fritz, 020 7435 3597 EMAIL: shoffice@stanthonysprep.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Please contact the Registrar who will arrange a tour.
ADDRESS: Ivy House, 94-96 North End Road, London NW11 7SX WEBSITE: www.stanthonysgirls.co.uk FOUNDED: 2016 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 70+ AGES: 4-11 FEES: £6,315 per term HEAD TEACHER: Donal Brennan RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Catholic / all faiths welcome ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Selective. The school has an inclusive policy and all girls’ needs are assessed on entry CONTACT: Margaret Vaughan, School Secretary EMAIL: admissions@stanthonysgirls.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Private school tours can be arranged upon request
THE CURRICULUM: Boys study a range of subjects and lessons are designed to foster intellectual inquiry and a love of learning. Boys are encouraged to think deeply and question and challenge ideas. There has been great success at integrating digital literacy into classroom learning.
THE CURRICULUM: The curriculum offers pupils a greater depth of experience in linguistic, mathematical, scientific, technological, human and social, physical and aesthetic and creative education in a happy, secure and stimulating environment.
GAMES & THE ARTS: The school has a great reputation in sport, music and the arts. Boys participate in rugby, football, athletics, swimming and there are fixtures with other leading preps. We offer individual instrumental tuition, as well as choirs, art and drama clubs.
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.
PASTORAL CARE: St Anthony’s is a nurturing and caring school. Pastoral care of the boys is at the heart of everything we do and is promoted in particular through the form teacher who is the key link between home and school. The deputy head, pastoral produces a wellbeing magazine for parents each month and the school has recently employed a counsellor who works from a dedicated wellbeing room.
PASTORAL CARE: The school prides itself on the high-quality pastoral care on offer. Pupils feel safe, secure and valued as part of the St Anthony’s family. They are taught the importance of caring for their emotional wellbeing and work in an environment where they can freely express concerns or anxieties. The curriculum provides valuable learning experiences which promote practical life skills in independence and resilience.
RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Academic Scholarships and means-tested bursaries are available.
RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Academic scholarships and means tested bursaries are available.
HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: St Anthony’s exists to give every boy in our care the best possible start in life. We believe a happy child learns best and that a nurturing environment produces excellent academic outcomes. This is evidenced by the number of offers from leading Independent senior schools including academic, sport and music scholarships.
HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: ‘The social, moral, cultural and spiritual development of children is the most integral part of my role as Headmaster of St Anthony’s School for Girls. I deem it my duty to help shape young minds into morally and ethically responsible individuals and to inspire children to seek the opportunities in life that will lead them to become valued members of their society.’ – Donal Brennan, Headmaster.
OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: The school achieved ‘Excellent’ in all categories of the ISI full school inspection in November 2019. The atmosphere is relaxed and purposeful with strong relationships amongst the boys and between pupils and staff. Boys are encouraged to be ambitious and resilient; they look out for each other and all value developing a moral compass.
OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Rated Ofsted Outstanding in all areas, St Anthony’s School for Girls provides a safe, nurturing environment for young girls to thrive academically, socially and spiritually. The small class sizes and individualised curriculum enable the teachers to tailor learning to the needs of each child, therefore enabling success in all curriculum areas: academic, sporting and creative. A wide range of extracurricular activities are held before, during and after school.
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LONDON PREPARATORY SCHOOLS
St James Prep School
ADDRESS: Earby Street, Kensington Olympia, London W14 8SH WEBSITE: www.stjamesprep.org.uk FOUNDED: 1974 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 230 AGES: 2-11 FEES: £6,140 per term (includes lunch) HEAD TEACHER: Kris Spencer RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Multireligious ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Children can join the new nursery (opened September 2019) the term they turn three. Nursery children and sibling priority for Reception places. All children are invited to a taster morning and are assessed from year three upwards in English and Maths CONTACT: Vicky Mitchell, Registrar, 020 7348 1793 EMAIL: admissions@stjamesprep.org.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Weekly tours with the Head THE CURRICULUM: St James believes that the true value of education lies in working out which doors you want to open in life. The school offers a stimulating, creative curriculum that gives children the confidence to open doors for themselves in the future. The curriculum balances the academic, pastoral, sporting, creative and spiritual elements to create a vibrant learning community. GAMES & THE ARTS: Strong in sports with over 18 different sports taught including handball and squash, alongside traditional team sports. Girls taught football, rugby and cricket and both boys and girls compete with great success regionally and nationally – last year’s Year 6 girls won the ISA Regional Netball Championships. Specialist teaching in all the arts, with a packed schedule of performances including a Shakespeare Festival. Outstanding art and design department with on-site kiln, regular trips to London galleries and rich use of different mediums and techniques. Young artist club supports art scholarship portfolios and preparation for art aptitude tests with much success. SUSTAINABILITY: In 2021 the school was awarded Green Flag Status by Eco-Schools (eco-schools.org.uk). The active inter-year eco committee meet regularly to plant in the eco-garden and hold events such as the annual No Power Day. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: New Head, Kris Spencer, is enthusiastic about the fully co-educational structure of the school, having taught at some of the best single sex and mixed schools in the country. An oasis of calm in bustling Kensington, the school is resourced with enviable outside space (including a forest school), a fully-resourced teaching kitchen, science labs and a new ICT Suite. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: The school prides itself on adding value both to the academic results and the character of its pupils. Lessons start and end with The Pause – a moment of stillness that supports focus and wellbeing. Love of learning is the preferred route to success so that pupils get great results for the right reasons, and without the stress of a hothouse atmosphere. Pupils can progress on to senior girls’ or boys’ schools – entry is automatic. The emphasis is on choice with a robust 11+ programme which sees recent leavers move on to schools such as St Paul’s Girls’ and Latymer Upper.
The White House School
ADDRESS: 24 Thornton Road, London SW12 0LF WEBSITE: www.whitehouseschool.com FOUNDED: 1985 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 168 AGES: 3-11 FEES: (Termly) reception – Year 2, £5,075; Year 3 – 6, £5,545 HEAD TEACHER: Tony Lewis RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Early registration essential, places allocated in order of registration. Settling-in day for children 1-6 CONTACT: Admissions, 020 8674 9514 EMAIL: admissions@whitehouseschool.com SCHOOL VISITS: Weekly showrounds available by appointment only. Please contact Admissions to arrange
THE CURRICULUM: The White House Prep School offers an excellent education, as recently confirmed by the ISI. It delivers strong literacy, maths, extra-curricular lessons and activities. Children relish challenges, enjoy working together to solve problems, have an 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 to excel as people with confidence. RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Over 50 per cent of pupils receive academic, music, sports and all round scholarships to top London day schools and boarding schools when they leave at 11+. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: A culture of supporting one another combined with a safe, inspiring, engaging and fun learning environment that sets high expectations and ensures children have an empowering educational experience. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: A vibrant, forward thinking school with purposefully small class sizes which encourages and supports independent thinking. The school feels like one big family; this develops strong self-esteem in pupils who are confident but without arrogance.
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LONDON PREPARATORY SCHOOLS
Find out more about life in our Junior School at our upcoming Whole School Open Day Saturday 25 September 2021 9.00am - 3.00pm To book a place, please visit www.stdunstans.org.uk or email jsadmissions@sdmail.org.uk 020 8516 7200 Stanstead Road London, SE6 4TY #DiscoverStDunstans
THE REMOTE LEARNING PROGRAMME FROM PGP WAS OUTSTANDING.
YOU ARE INVITED TO OUR
OPEN DAY ON
SATURDAY 25 SEPTEMBER 9.30AM
PLEASE CONTACT US TO BOOK A PLACE
www.parsonsgreenprep.co.uk w ww.parsonsgreenprep.c .co o.uk
SHE AND WE LOVED PGP AND SHE LEFT FULL OF CONFIDENCE AND WITH GREAT RESULTS.
P arsons G reen P rep Parsons Green Prep 1 Fulham Park Road London SW6 4LJ T: 020 7610 8085 E: admissions@parsonsgreenprep.co.uk We are really looking forward to meeting you.
We would be delighted to show you our brand new Reception classroom and share our further plans towards becoming a major STEAM school.
PGP IS A WONDERFUL SCHOOL WITH STRONG ACADEMICS AND A LOVELY, CARING ETHOS.
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LONDON SENIOR SCHOOLS
How do you spot a Croydon High girl? Croydon High girls are confident, compassionate, engaged and ambitious. It’s what makes them (and their school) so special.
Founded in 1442 and located in the heart of the city, we offer boys an outward-looking, forward-thinking education that prepares them for life.
To find out more about the school everyone is talking about, call 020 8260 7543 or email admissions@cry.gdst.net We would love to tell you more about a whole new world of possibilities for girls.
Teaching pupils between the ages of 10 and 18, we are one of London’s leading independent day schools.
For more information, visit cityoflondonschool.org.uk
Advert - School House 2021 edition (129.5 x 95.5mm) FIXED.indd 1
www.croydonhigh.gdst.net
08/06/2021 15:12:17
Alleyn’s School
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Alleyn’s offer co-educational excellence in a caring community for children aged 11-18. To discover more about life at Alleyn’s, nd Open Events and to learn how we can help with school fees, please visit our website.
www.alleyns.org.uk 020 8557 1500 | Townley Road, Dulwich, London SE22 8SU
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LONDON SENIOR SCHOOLS
Open Events for Year 7 and Year 9 entry Please visit the Admissions section of our website to book a place for one of our Autumn Open Events. Find out more about our holistic approach to education from the Master and members of staff, including the many opportunities in Sport, Drama, Music and Art, and details about how to apply for a Bursary. All applications are automatically considered for Academic Scholarships. Visit www.dulwich.org.uk/admissions or please call the Registrar on 020 8299 9263. We look forward to hearing from you.
Leading Independent School for Girls aged 11-18
Leading Independent School for Girls aged 4 -18
Open Events 2021
Open Events 2021 J unior O pen M ornings 21st September, 4th November
Senior V irt ual O pen E v enings w it h L iv e Q & A 13th, 30th September
Senior O pen M ornings 14th, 24th September, 5th November
Senior O pen E v ening
Senior O pen E v ening 6th October
Sixt h Form O pen E v ening 20th September
Sixt h Form O pen E v ening 22nd September
To book our open events, please contact the Registrar, Mrs Sarah Goldberg
To book our open events, please contact the Registrar, Mrs Fiona Holland
13
th
October
registrar@fhs-nw1.org.uk
registrar@fhs-sw1.org.uk
www.fhs-nw1.org.uk/admissions
www.fhs-sw1.org.uk/admissions
020 7723 0176 Reg. Charity No 312745
020 7730 2971 Reg. Charity No 312745
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f y M u t ur e i s up t here Space X are going to Mars. I want to be part of that .
Open Morning
25 Sep
Book online now
BL ACKHE AT H HI G H
Our girls can explore possibilities that are simply out of this world, like studying GCSE Astronomy at the Royal Observatory.
Where girls boldly go
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LONDON SENIOR SCHOOLS
E
Forest is a large, vibrant independent school for more than 1,430 boys and girls aged 4-18yrs, offering outstanding academic progress and personal development. Forest benefits from a tremendous location: surrounded by ancient forest, but situated within a wonderfully diverse part of North-East London with 30 acres of grounds. Forest - Where People Grow
020 8520 1744 | E17 3PY www.forest.org.uk | admissions@forest.org.uk
MADE IN PUTNE Y Introducing Flo. Scholar, philosopher, meaning of life-erer. Asks the big questions. Finds equally big answers.
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Eaton Square Schools
Senior & Sixth Form
Preparation for Life. By popular demand, Eaton Square Schools are expanding. Eaton Square Senior School’s new Sixth Form unites academic excellence, unrivalled university preparation and a pioneering Preparation for Life programme. Set in an innovative educational framework in central London, pupils are fully equipped to make their mark in our ever-changing world. Discover more at our Sixth Form Information Evening on Tuesday 28th September. Book your place now: www.eatonsquareschools.com
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SCHOOL HOUSE AD SS Set to FOGRA 39 COATED 263mm x 95.5mm LONDON SENIOR SCHOOLS
DLD College London
Girls enjoying success!
ADDRESS: 199 Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 7FX WEBSITE: www.dldcollege.co.uk FOUNDED: 1931 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 400 AGES: 14-19 FEES: Domestic day students: £24,670 HEAD TEACHER: Irfan Latif RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: All religions welcome ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Selective based on assessment and interview. CONTACT: Admissions EMAIL: dld-admissions@dld.org SCHOOL VISITS: Private tours welcomed by appointment, termly open evenings. Details at dldcollege.co.uk
THE CURRICULUM: DLD offers a range of courses and programmes including A-level, BTEC, one year intensive and two year GCSE courses. Small class sizes allow for dedicated and focused student-staff contact. GAMES & THE ARTS: We excel at creativity and have many opportunities across art, design, photography, film and drama. Weekly PE lessons use the on-site gym or local outdoor sports area. Clubs include basketball, boxing, football, yoga, circuit training and badminton. PASTORAL CARE: Student wellbeing is at the centre of our philosophy with a dedicated wellbeing centre in the heart of the school. Judged Excellent at inspection and the first UK school to receive the Gold Standard Boarding School Mental Health Award, we are STEER accredited and a beacon school, able to demonstrate proactive, targeted, evidencebased pastoral care. Also winners of both the recent ISA and BSA Awards in the Wellbeing category.
SENIOR SCHOOL Open Days 2021
UNIVERSITY PLACES: Oxbridge, Russell Group universities, and art and music colleges in the UK and USA with applications supported by specialist university tutors. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: ‘I believe education is about more than grades. It is an awareness of the world, independent thought and values, the benefits of team sport, of culture, of academic ambition and learning with enthusiasm; of growing up in a safe and caring community where all are passionate about what they do. That is what we aspire to and, I am confident, deliver.’
11+ ENTRY
Please book your visit at channing.co.uk/admissions
OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Winner of 5 national awards including Independent School of the Year Special Judges’ Award and Boarding School of the Year 2020. The college offers exceptional student wellbeing and the best in urban boarding. It is noted for friendliness and informality, treating students as young adults with autonomy. There is flexible pupil-centred learning, helping students to build confidence in their own abilities. Contemporary and cutting-edge teaching is performed in ultra-modern educational facilities in its iconic location overlooking the Houses of Parliament.
INDEPENDENT DAY SCHOOL FOR GIRLS AGED 4-18
Highgate, N6 5HF
channing.co.uk
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Each day, discovery
Eltham College is a co-educational day school which welcomes girls and boys for entry in Years 3, 7 and Sixth Form. Come and visit us at our Open Day on Saturday 18 September 10.00am - 1.00pm Book your place: www.elthamcollege.london/opendays
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Grove Park Road, London SE9 4QF
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LONDON SENIOR SCHOOLS
Happy girls are successful girls Happy girls are successful girls
Excellent academic value added 72% A*–B five-year average at A-Level
Door-to-door transport Flexi, weekly and full boarding ‘Pastoral care uniformly “phenomenal”’ – Good Schools Guide
Open OpenEvents morning
Tuesday October: Into the Sixth Form Evening March, 5September and November Wednesday 13 October: Open Morning
Q
ueenswood
BOOK NOW
Charity number 311060
1 8 9 4
A LEADING INDEPENDENT BOARDING AND DAY SCHOOL FOR GIRLS AGED 11-18
Brookmans Park, Hertfordshire AL9 6NS | 01707 602500
I N D E P E ND E NT DAY SCHO OL FO R GI RLS AGE D 4 TO 18 I N SO UT H K E N S I NGTO N
OUR TRADITION
your future
JUNIOR & SENIOR SCHOOL OPEN EVENTS FIND OUT MORE www.queensgate.org.uk South Kensington · 5-minute walk Gloucester Road · 6-minute walk
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LONDON SENIOR SCHOOLS
Confident, capable and connected. Come and take a closer look Senior School Open Morning Tuesday 21 September 2021 9:00am – 11:00am Saturday 2 October 2021 9:00am – 11:00am
Pre School & Preparatory Open Morning Thursday 14 October 2021 9:30am – 11:00am
Old Palace School House OM Ad - WHI 6412_v2.indd 1
Old Palace of John Whitgift Pre School and Preparatory Melville Avenue South Croydon CR2 7YN Old Palace of John Whitgift Senior and Sixth Form Old Palace Road Croydon CR0 1AX Please book in advance at: www.oldpalace.croydon.sch.uk/bookings 020 8688 2027
09/06/2021 15:42
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LONDON SENIOR SCHOOLS
Kew House School
ADDRESS: 6 Capital Interchange Way, London TW8 0EX WEBSITE: www.kewhouseschool.com FOUNDED: 2013 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 550 AGES: 11-18 FEES: (termly) £7,450 HEAD TEACHER: Will Williams RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: All Faiths ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Entrance exam and relaxed interview CONTACT: Dawn Hassett EMAIL: admissions@kewhouseschool.com SCHOOL VISITS: 20 Sept 2021, 1 Oct 2021, 12 Oct 2021, 3 Nov 2021, 26 Nov 2021
THE CURRICULUM: Our aim is to provide a rich and broad education to all pupils whatever their specialism, pursuing excellence in all areas, examinable or not. The daily timetable is six taught hours plus the extracurricular programme involving academic, non-academic and sports-based clubs. GAMES & THE ARTS: Our pupils are highly creative, with a reputation for excellence in music and the performing and visual arts. Our dynamic PE department ensures success at both regional and national level across rowing, athletics, tennis, table tennis, cross country and netball. Inclusivity, opportunity and choice ensure participation is maximised at every ability. PASTORAL CARE: We aim for a family and social hub giving emotional support and security to all pupils and employees. Each pupil receives individual attention both educationally and pastorally. Our approach is holistic, as we believe that there can be no artificial barriers between a pupil’s intellectual, emotional, social and spiritual growth. A number of staff are involved in the life of each pupil, but in particular, the personal tutor who meets their tutee on a daily basis. Pupils have the same tutor throughout their seven years with us. UNIVERSITY PLACES: Pupils apply to courses best suited to their individual strengths and aspirations. In 2020, 100% achieved their first choice University, including 39% to Russell Group. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: We recognise and enhance the individual abilities of each child, welcoming pupils with varying academic profiles and placing emphasis on confidence, self-esteem and creativity. By operating a true open door policy welcoming parents and wider community members to become a part of school life, Kew House has developed the feeling of a family and social hub providing emotional support and security for all. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: In 2017, a brand new sixth-form centre opened with a beautifully designed independent learning centre on the ground floor. This building reflects the fact that sixth-form students are approaching adulthood and encourages independent study. Facilities include a café, library, roof terrace, audio-visual suite, and seminar rooms. Following an inspection in Feb 2018 by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI), Kew House was delighted to learn from the lead inspector that the results of the pupil and parent questionnaires were the most positive they had ever seen.
Hampton Court House School
ADDRESS: Hampton Court Road, East Molesey, Surrey KT8 9BS WEBSITE: www.hamptoncourthouse.co.uk FOUNDED: 2000 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 288 AGES: 3-18 FEES: (termly) £4,331 to £6,965 HEAD TEACHER: Adrian Rainbow RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Academically selective from Year 5. English and mathematics assessments, 1-to-1 interview. School reports and Heads references. CONTACT: Head of Admissions; 020 8614 0857 EMAIL: admissions@hchnet.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Group tours are held every Thursday morning. Open afternoons for each age group are held once a term. THE CURRICULUM: An academically challenging curriculum with a focus on languages – children in the prep school are taught bilingually in English and French. Small class sizes and subject specialists throughout the school. GAMES & THE ARTS: Performing arts and fine arts are strong with chamber choir, regular concerts, and 1-to-1 music tuition. Nursery to Year 4 have RAD ballet lessons in the curriculum. Sport is taught throughout the school and all children from Year 7 row at the nearby Molesey boat club. PASTORAL CARE: We believe in truth and empathy – and therefore in reacting appropriately to wrongdoing. Our approach to pastoral care and our behaviour policy reflect this aim as we always ‘seek first to understand’ and invest time in having conversations with students and families. This has proved successful as in many cases the potential for poor or escalating behaviour has been diminished by an early understanding of the root of an issue. UNIVERSITY PLACES: We prepare students for applications to Oxbridge as well as top national universities. In 2020, all of our students were accepted by their first-choice universities. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: Work hard and be kind. The most successful people are those prepared to use discretionary effort – do what you are asked to do and then do a little bit more. The pointy-elbowed, win-at-all-costs mentality has increasingly been found wanting. It is time for the compassionate to show that there is a better way. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Success can be achieved through encouragement not pressure. We value scientific, artistic and sporting pursuits. We believe in truth and empathy – and therefore in reacting appropriately to wrongdoing. We take responsibility for our lives. This means accepting and learning from our mistakes (and not blaming others for them). We believe that by speaking a foreign language, we enrich our lives and deepen our understanding of other cultures. We value differences. For this reason we actively seek a mix of staff and pupils which reflects a range of cultural, social and religious backgrounds. We promote an active engagement in media and current affairs, believing that it is a moral imperative to have an opinion on the events and decisions which shape our world. We believe in questioning our beliefs.
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LONDON SENIOR SCHOOLS
Kensington Park School
ADDRESS: Lower School, 40-44 Bark Place, London W2 4AT | Sixth Form, 59 Queen’s Gate, London SW7 5JP WEBSITE: www.kps.co.uk FOUNDED: 2017 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 233 AGES: 11 – 18 FEES: (termly) tuition: £8250 – £8600; boarding: £6500 – 7000. HEAD TEACHER: J P Middleton MA (Oxon) RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: All faiths welcome ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Lower School: age-appropriate entrance assessment, reference, and interview. Sixth Form: predicted GCSE grades, Non-Verbal Reasoning assessment and interview. Scholarships available at 11+, 13+ and 16+. CONTACT: Head of Admissions, +44 (0)20 7616 4402 EMAIL: admissions@kps.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Visit our website for our upcoming open evenings. Private and small group tours welcomed by appointment. THE CURRICULUM: An academically purposeful school, our 21st century curriculum prepares our students for the changing world around them. Small class sizes ensure that each individual is nurtured, challenged and inspired to become the best possible version of themselves. GAMES & THE ARTS: Our extensive co-curricular programme, sonamed because of the vital role it plays in complementing the academic curriculum, is at the heart of life at KPS. Partnering with local providers for our sport and Games provision, pupils have access to activities such as netball, football, swimming, rock climbing and ice skating, while our stateof-the art theatre offers exceptional facilities for drama and the arts. PASTORAL CARE: We firmly believe that young people learn best when they feel happy, safe and respected, and outstanding pastoral care is at the heart of what we do. Experienced tutors play a key role, meeting students daily in small groups in the Lower School, and on a one-to-one basis in the Sixth Form. Our core values of kindness, moral integrity, responsibility and a sense of service underpin our House System which is integral to ensuring student wellbeing, and a strong sense of community. UNIVERSITY PLACES: Students progress to leading UK and international universities, including Oxbridge, Russell Group and Ivy League. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: New Headmaster, Mr Middleton, is passionate about enabling young people to fulfil their potential. This is achieved, in part, by building warm relationships between students, parents, and staff. We pride ourselves on offering a values-driven and intellectually stimulating environment where students not only achieve academic success, but develop as balanced, resilient adults. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Located adjacent to the tranquil spaces of Hyde Park, KPS offers an exceptional education in the heart of cosmopolitan central London. With outstanding boarding for students aged 14+, our split site allows us to deliver teaching focused on students’ individual academic and pastoral needs. KPS students are resilient, motivated individuals who share our core values and a thirst for learning.
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LONDON SENIOR SCHOOLS
Ibstock Place Senior School
A Passion for Life & Learning Open Morning 2 October 2021
Online Open Events throughout Sept & Oct Booking required for all events: www.jags.org.uk
ADDRESS: Clarence Lane, London SW15 5PY WEBSITE: www.ibstockplaceschool.co.uk FOUNDED: 1894 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 325 boys, 325 girls AGES: 11-18 FEES: £7,450 per term HEAD TEACHER: Christopher J Wolsey RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Admission at 11 and 16 via entrance examination and other assessment; occasional places at 12, 13, 14 CONTACT: C Voysey, The Registrar; 020 8392 5803 EMAIL: registrar@ibstockplaceschool.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Open morning, 18 Sept 2021, 9am-1pm; open evening, 4 May 2022, 5-7pm
THE CURRICULUM: Committed to a liberal and humane education, we also recognise the primacy of traditional academic subjects as essential devices through which our pupils can build an understanding of the world. GAMES & THE ARTS: A wealth of opportunity for co-curricular participation: A purpose built sports hall; playing fields; swimming pool; all-weather pitch; stunning 300-seat theatre. IPS Singers tour internationally; Berkeley Ensemble is ensemble-in-residence. IPS artists exhibited by Royal College of Art. National Theatre Live screenings. 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 a vertically tutored house group for four years, thus building strong relationships between pupils, their head of house, 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 her tutor team provide VI pastoral care. UNIVERSITY PLACES: Oxford, Cambridge, Durham, Exeter, Imperial, UCL, LSE, Warwick, Exeter, Bath, Bristol, York. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: Mr Christopher J Wolsey, formerly Deputy Head, took over the Headship in January 2021: ‘IPS will continue to innovate its curriculum, be ever-more connected to its context, working alongside multiple partners for our collective good, and maintain a culture in which everyone feels valued and in which the wellbeing of all is an allencompassing priority.’ OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Co-educational London day school for pupils aged 11 to 18 in beautiful grounds adjacent to Richmond Park. Challenging and inspirational curriculum extends and stretches. Pupils renowned for creativity, resilience and empathy. Enthusiastic and ambitious staff. Stunning new Refectory opened 2020. Rated ‘Excellent’ in every area of last ISI inspection.
James Allen’s Girls’ School 144 East Dulwich Grove London SE22 8TE s 020 8693 1181 180 | SCHOOLHOUSEMAGAZINE.CO.UK | Autumn/Winter 2021
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LONDON SENIOR SCHOOLS
Excellent in all areas
Independent Schools Inspectorate Report 2019
Open Events 2021/22 Open Morning: Saturday 25th September School in Action: Thursday 4th November (AM) School in Action: Tuesday 18th January (AM) Open Evening: Thursday 30th September Sixth Form Open Evening: Wednesday 6th October School in Action: Wednesday 4th May (AM)
Registration deadline for Year 7 entry 2022: Friday 12th November 2021
Speak the Truth
|
Live Generously
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To book: 020 7348 1748
admissions@sjsg.org.uk www.stjamesgirls.co.uk
Aim for the Best
Earsby Street | London W14 8SH
Registered Charity No. 270156
Prep School | Senior School | Sixth Form
Opportunity at every turn Virtual Open Day Sign up and explore what makes St Helen’s such a warm and exciting place to learn. FUTURES PROGRAMME - Highly Commended School of the Year for Student Careers Programme Inaugural Independent Schools of the Year Awards
admissions@sthelens.london | 01923 843230
www.sthelens.london An Independent Day School for Girls aged 3 - 18
Eastbury Road, Northwood, HA6 3AS 2 mins walk from Northwood Tube | 30 mins from Baker Street (Metropolitan Line)
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LONDON SENIOR SCHOOLS
S C H O O L H O U S E M AG A Z I N E
Portland Place School
ADDRESS: 56-58 Portland Place, London W1B 1NJ WEBSITE: www.portland-place.co.uk FOUNDED: 1996 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 200 AGES: 10-16 FEES: (termly) £7,470 HEAD TEACHER: David Bradbury RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: All faiths welcome ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Interview, reference and assessment CONTACT: Registrar, 020 7307 8700 EMAIL: admissions@portland-place.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: We hold open mornings and Saturday school tours in the autumn term. Private tours are available throughout the year.
THE CURRICULUM: Portland Place School was founded as an alternative to the intense, large, examination focused independent day schools of which there are many in London. At Portland Place, our creative approach to academic study helps your child find their own path to learning. It’s the same goal, but with a different journey. The result? Our students are successful – on their own terms. GAMES & THE ARTS: Competitive and recreational sport has always had a special place in Portland Place. Whilst some pupils have gone on to represent their county and country, we also take pride in stating that most of our pupils have represented Portland Place in an inter school fixture, because we recognise that sport develops self-confidence and leadership. Arts music and drama are very popular at Portland Place, and our students benefit from visits to the wealth of art and performances on offer in London. Symphonfree is offered to all Year 7 pupils, supplying them with a free musical instrument and lessons for a year. PASTORAL CARE: We believe that the happier your child is, the more likely it is that they’ll be receptive to new ideas and in the right state of mind to learn. At Portland Place, your child won’t be tested left, right and centre, but will have the time and space to discover how they like to learn. The atmosphere is relaxed so our students are more relaxed.
The next issue of SCHOOL HOUSE MAGAZINE is out in Spring 2022 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
LATYMER UPPER & PREP SCHOOL
Open Days 2021 Book an Open Day appointment
7+ Entry Prep School Open Day Saturday 18 September
latymerprep.org/admissions/open-day-7-
11+ Upper School Open Day Saturday 11 September Saturday 2 October
latymer-upper.org/admissions/open-days
HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: Here at Portland Place we believe that exceptional teaching, combined with a modern curriculum inside and outside the classroom, provides the best stimulus for children to become inquisitive and creative learners and achieve beyond exams. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: The Good Schools Guide describes us as ‘small, nurturing and refreshingly relaxed. A haven of creativity in the pushy, academically competitive world of London day schools. At Portland Place, we also offer a unique hybrid school for Years 6-11, combining four days of online teaching with the option to attend the school in person one day a week. Termly fees for Portland Place Online are £2,985.
Latymer Upper Hammersmith 0208 148 4515
@LatymerPrep @LatymerPrep
Latymer Prep Hammersmith
0208 148 4519 @LatymerUpper @LatymerUpperSchool
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Scholarships and bursaries available
www.mtsn.org.uk Coaches: Hampstead, Highgate, Ealing & St John’s Wood
Tel. +44 (0)1923 845514 Merchant Taylors’ School, Sandy Lodge, Email. admissions@mtsn.org.uk Northwood, Middlesex HA6 2HT
Excellence, integrity and distinction since 1561
A4 School 183 House Advert 225x298indd.indd 1 2 xxxx_MTS London Senior.indd
Moor Park (Baker Street 35 minutes)
For boys 3 - 18
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LONDON SENIOR SCHOOLS
Independent Day School for Boys Co-Educational Sixth Form Croydon
Extraordinary
Curiosity After school in the library, Aden and Ronaal discover the next instalment in their favourite adventure series.
Leading through values
Discover more trinity-school.org
If 3As equal medical school,
emotional resilience
equals saving lives. (Mr Elliott, Biology.)
WHOLE SCHOOL OPEN DAY Saturday 2nd October 2021 from 13: 00 - 16 : 00 northwoodcollege.gdst.net 184 | SCHOOLHOUSEMAGAZINE.CO.UK | Autumn/Winter 2021
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LONDON SENIOR SCHOOLS
Radnor House School, Twickenham
ADDRESS: Pope’s Villa, Cross Deep, Twickenham TW1 4QG WEBSITE: www.radnor-twickenham.org FOUNDED: 2011 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 440 AGES: 9-18 FEES: (termly) £5,710 - £7,030 HEAD TEACHER: Darryl Wideman RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Academically selective. English and mathematics assessments, informal group interview for Year 7 and Year 9 entry. School reports and Head’s references. CONTACT: The Admissions Department; 020 8891 6264 EMAIL: admissions@radnorhouse.org SCHOOL VISITS: Three open days per year in May, Oct and Nov. Group tours run twice a week during autumn and summer term when permitted. THE CURRICULUM: We provide a rigorous and broad academic curriculum, providing breadth and balance with a bespoke individual curriculum where necessary. Beyond the classroom, we have a superb array of around 100 co-curricular clubs to enhance our academic offer. GAMES & THE ARTS: We have teams for most traditional sports including football, rugby, cricket, hockey and netball based in outstanding sports facilities at Teddington Cricket Club and St Mary’s University. Rowing is a popular sport, making the most of our stunning riverside location. The performing arts and fine arts are strong, with regular concerts and art exhibitions. PASTORAL CARE: We pride ourselves on our pastoral care, with staff well trained in safeguarding, mental health awareness and wellbeing. Intervention is swift, putting the child at the centre of all we do. We try to be as proactive as we can, helping pupils to develop resilience and helping them to navigate through the complexities of the modern world. In short, we genuinely care about our pupils and want them to thrive. UNIVERSITY PLACES:The majority of our upper sixth leavers go on to top Russell Group universities. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: Work hard and be kind. The most successful people are those prepared to use discretionary effort – do what you are asked to do and then do a little bit more. The pointy-elbowed, win-at-all-costs mentality has increasingly been found wanting. It is time for the compassionate to show that there is a better way. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Big enough to matter, small enough to care. A genuine community that looks out for all its people where success can be achieved through encouragement not pressure. The opportunity for everyone to thrive in an education with meaning. A rising tide lifts all boats.
North Bridge House Senior
ADDRESS: Senior School Hampstead, 65 Rosslyn Hill, London NW3 5UD | Senior & Sixth Form Canonbury, 6-9 Canonbury Place, London N1 2NQ WEBSITE: www.northbridgehouse.com FOUNDED: 1939 NUMBER OF PUPILS: Hampstead – 380 | Canonbury – 180 AGES: 11-18 FEES: £20,520 – £21,735 per annum HEAD TEACHER: Brendan Pavey RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Assessments and interview. CONTACT: Admissions office; 020 7428 1520 EMAIL: admissionsenquiries@northbridgehouse.com SCHOOL VISITS: Open events are held throughout the year. Please check our website for more details: northbridgehouse.com THE CURRICULUM: Highly qualified teachers deliver broad academic and creative curriculums, tailored to challenge and stimulate pupils according to individual needs. The curriculum is designed to educate each child, promoting resilience and adaptability while ensuring real-life issues, such as BLM, are brought to the forefront. Students prepare for 16+ and university with courses delivered by institutions such as Yale University and Wharton Business School. GAMES & THE ARTS: The broad-ranging games curriculum is designed to promote pupils’ physical and emotional well-being and provide a sport for everyone, with students frequenting the best facilities for outdoor adventure and water sports, as well yoga, martial arts and fitness classes. The arts are just as key to both the curricular and extra-curricular offering: Plays and concerts are regularly staged, art exhibitions are an annual event and pupils relish the opportunity to perform in the local area. PASTORAL CARE: Pupil wellbeing is at the heart of everything: The school day is tailored around the teenage body clock to provide a later midweek start, while an onsite counsellor and confidence workshops ensure pupils are not just provided with people to talk to but with people they want to talk to. All staff are committed to nurturing character and wellbeing within the small tutor groups and warm community, so that every pupil thrives on a strong sense of belonging and security. UNIVERSITY PLACES: Students receive offers from a range of universities, typically accepting places at Oxbridge and Russell Group institutions. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: NBH provides an individually tailored coeducation, celebrating high-achieving pupils in a mixed ability environment. From our focus on knowing the individual and developing strength of character, we achieve academic excellence in confident pupils who are proud of their successes. With specialist teaching and outstanding extra-curricular opportunities, we challenge and inspire each child to fulfil their potential. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Students benefit from a later start on a Wednesday in line with leading research into the teenage brain – specifically sleeping patterns. Oxbridge preparation, higher education fairs and ‘World of Work’ guest speaker events best inform students for successful futures.
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LONDON SENIOR SCHOOLS
Maida Vale School
ADDRESS: 18 Saltram Crescent, London W9 3HR WEBSITE: www.maidavaleschool.com FOUNDED: 2020 NUMBER OF PUPILS: Maximum 600 students AGES: 11-18 FEES: (termly) £7,450 HEAD TEACHER: Steven Winter RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: All faiths welcome ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Entrance exam and relaxed interview CONTACT: Daniela Simpson, Registrar; 020 3196 1860 EMAIL: info@maidavaleschool.com SCHOOL VISITS: 14 Sept 2021 and 28 Sept 2021 with more to be announced via www.maidavaleschool.com/openevents
THE CURRICULUM: Maida Vale School takes a fresh approach to all areas of school life and is not bound by conventions and practices. While retaining core traditional values, we have a broad curriculum, a vast enrichment programme and an extended school day, providing variety and flexibility to develop individual talent and fulfil pupils’ potential. GAMES & THE ARTS: Although academic rigour is at the centre of our school, sports and the arts form an important part of school life at Maida Vale. The school houses spacious studio facilities for dance, yoga and HIIT (high intensity interval training) classes. We have access to a number of nearby sports grounds and facilities allowing our dynamic PE department to thrive, whilst our theatre and art studios provide a wide variety of drama, musical and artistic opportunities. PASTORAL CARE: Every member of staff, no matter who they are, has a responsibility for the pastoral care of every pupil. Each pupil receives individual attention both educationally and pastorally. Children and young adults flourish when their self-esteem and confidence is bolstered. Our Personal Tutor Group system contributes greatly to this with each tutor meeting their tutee daily and remaining the same member of staff throughout the pupil’s seven years with us. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: We seek to recruit intelligent pupils with a confident sense of identity and an original approach to learning, problem solving and creativity. We operate an ‘open door’ policy welcoming parents into school life, developing the feeling of a family and social hub that provides emotional support and security for all students and employees. Maida Vale School is an energising and nurturing place. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Maida Vale School is a beautiful Victorian building that was once a former college. The Victorians believed in light-filled classrooms with high ceilings and large windows, something from which Maida Vale School certainly benefits. We have, however, taken the school into the 21st Century and Maida Vale is fitted with cutting edge facilities and equipment.
Lycée International de Londres Winston Churchill
ADDRESS: 54 Forty Lane, London HA9 9LY WEBSITE: www.lyceeinternational.london FOUNDED: 2015 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 862 AGES: 3-18 FEES: 21/22: £16,132 for EYFS; £13,074–£13,998 for French program, plus registration and exam fees; £20,540 for EIP and IBDP. Tuition includes lunch and most supplies. HEAD TEACHER: Mireille Rabaté RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: None ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Non-selective. French/English language proficiency requirements (at all levels) and prerequisites for upper levels. CONTACT: Admissions Office, 020 3824 4900 EMAIL: admissions@lyceeinternational.london SCHOOL VISITS: Scheduled open days, private and small group tours by appointment, online visits also available. THE CURRICULUM: Rigorous, innovative, child-centred, global. French/ English bilingual programme following French curriculum from age three to Terminale/Bac. English-speaking programme starting in year seven, International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme in years 12 and 13. GAMES & THE ARTS: Rich after-school programme featuring dozens of options from arts, music and drama to team and individual sports (football, basketball, rugby, running, fencing, judo) and hobbies (computer coding, robotics). Global and community service activities, travel and overseas language learning opportunities. PASTORAL CARE: We believe that intellectual growth and emotional development go hand-in-hand for our students. The school offers a challenging yet encouraging environment, combining discipline with initiative, exploration, critical thinking, teamwork, and individual advancement. Students learn to be curious, open and confident in their opinions. Our pedagogy is underpinned by extensive wellbeing and learning support services for both students and parents, as well as university and careers counselling for older students. UNIVERSITY PLACES: 100 per cent matriculation to universities in the UK, Europe, and America. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: We embrace a modern educational ethos that blends tradition with innovation, placing the wellbeing and intellectual development of each student at the heart of every lesson, strategy, and decision we make. Our goal is to develop responsible, open-minded young people capable of tackling the challenges of an unpredictable world. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: High academic standards and achievement in a supportive environment. Diverse and multilingual faculty and student body. Global and multicultural perspectives in learning and play. Appropriate, progressive, and secure use of technology tools. A nurturing school community with active parental involvement. Beautiful leafy campus and historic building. Led by highly qualified international staff.
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LONDON SENIOR SCHOOLS
Scholarships and Bursaries available at 11+, 13+ and 16+ Find out more at our Whole School Open Day Saturday 25 September 2021 9.00am - 3.00pm Book online at www.stdunstans.org.uk 020 8516 7200 Stanstead Road London, SE6 4TY #DiscoverStDunstans
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LONDON SENIOR SCHOOLS
ST BENEDICT’S SCHOOL a
m i n i m i s
i n c i p e
Outstanding Catholic Independent school for boys & girls aged 3 - 18 OPEN MORNINGS SENIOR SCHOOL THURSDAY 16 TH SEPTEMBER NURSERY & JUNIOR SCHOOL TUESDAY 21 ST SEPTEMBER
View our website for a full list of our Open Events or arrange a personal visit with our Registrar, Louise Pepper, on 020 8862 2254 www.stbenedicts.org.uk
Help with Fees available for Year 7 and Year 12 entry
Transforming boys’ lives through education… Whitgift is one of Britain’s finest independent day and boarding schools for boys aged 10 to 18. Set in 45 acres of parkland, we offer pathways for IB and A Levels. To find out more about our School, please visit our website.
INDEPENDENT BOYS’ SCHOOL
admissions@whitgift.co.uk | Telephone: +44 (0)20 8633 9935 |
OF THE YEAR 2020
ON L IN E & ON-SITE OPEN EVENTS Please see website
www.whitgift.co.uk
Whitgift School | Haling Park | South Croydon | CR2 6YT
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COUNTRY SCHOOLS
St Francis’ College, Hertfordshire
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ALDRO
An independent day and boarding school f or boys and girls aged 7 -13
giving children
the freedom to
flourish open morning Saturday 2 O ctober 10: 00-11: 3 0
T o book a place, visit aldro. org or email admissions@ aldro. org
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Cranleigh Preparatory School
Cranleigh School
ADDRESS: Horseshoe Lane, Cranleigh, Surrey GU6 8QH WEBSITE: www.cranprep.org FOUNDED: 1913 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 340 AGES: 7-13 FEES: (annually) boarding, £25,164; day (Years 5–8), £20,838; day (Years 3 and 4), £16,062 HEAD TEACHER: Neil Brooks RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Age appropriate assessments and report from the head of the pupil’s current school CONTACT: CJ Staples, Head of Admissions EMAIL: cjs@cranleigh.org SCHOOL VISITS: Please visit our website to take part in our virtual open day: www.cranprep.org/admissions/virtual-open-day/
ADDRESS: Horseshoe Lane, Cranleigh, Surrey GU6 8QQ WEBSITE: www.cranleigh.org FOUNDED: 1865 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 400 boys, 279 girls AGES: 13-18 FEES: Boarding, £39,330 annually; day, £32,370 annually HEAD TEACHER: Martin Reader MA (Oxon), MPhil, MBA RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: To learn about the admissions process for both 13+ and 16+ entry, please contact our admissions team directly. CONTACT: Jane Gallie, 01483 276377 EMAIL: admissions@cranleigh.org SCHOOL VISITS: Please e-mail admissions@cranleigh.org if you wish to book a visit. Visit www.cranleigh.org/admissions/virtual-open-day/ to take part in our virtual open day
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.
THE CURRICULUM: A broad fourth-form curriculum leads into an options system allowing between nine and ten GCSEs. At sixth-form pupils take A-levels with the option of adding EPQ and Pre-U. Classes are a good size (approx. ten in sixth-form), and extra support is readily available.
GAMES & THE ARTS: 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.
GAMES & THE ARTS: Outstanding facilities include a huge sports centre, indoor pool, equestrian centre, 31 pitches and a golf course. The music school features a wide range of ensembles and top-class practice/ performance facilities; drama has its own modern theatre, while Duke of Edinburgh, CCF and canoeing are popular. The Woodyer Art Studios provide some of the best art facilities in the country, with six large studios providing specialist provision for painting, printmaking, photography, sculpture and ceramics. The Design Engineering department has three design studios and workshops, including 3D printing facilities.
RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: 33 scholarships in 2019, 202 scholarships over the last five years to some of the country’s best schools, including Brighton College, Cranleigh School, Charterhouse, Eton College, KCS Wimbledon, Marlborough College, RGS Guildford, Tonbridge, Wellington College and Winchester College.
PASTORAL CARE: Cranleigh’s philosophy is to nurture pupils as individuals, ensuring happy and fulfilling school years while preparing them for the wider world. The housemasters/mistresses, matrons and personal tutors who closely follow their tutees’ progress, Deputy Heads and Chaplain all play a key part in the pupils’ pastoral care.
HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: We focus on enabling each child to fulfil their intellectual potential, while encouraging them to find 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.
UNIVERSITY PLACES: 99 per cent go on to higher education, with around 80 per cent getting into their first-choice university (including Oxbridge, Bristol, Durham, LSE, UCL) in recent years.
OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: The School is set in 40 acres of stunning Surrey countryside, less than 50 minutes from London with first class sports and music facilities and an exceptional art department. Unique pastoral care in a wonderfully relaxed, inspirational environment leads to outstanding academic results.
OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: The 280-acre setting and outstanding facilities offer an enviable environment in which to develop in both academic and co-curricular spheres. Cranleigh believes feeling valued within various spheres impacts positively on grades, and results in confident, open-minded individuals who leave with lifelong friends.
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.
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Cottesmore School
ADDRESS: Pease Pottage, West Sussex RH11 9AU WEBSITE: www.cottesmoreschool.com FOUNDED: 1894 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 200 AGES: 4-13 FEES: Prep boarding, £9,550; day boarding, £6,290; pre-prep, £3,360–£4,480 HEAD TEACHER: Tom Rogerson RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Interview with Head, previous term’s report and an English and Maths assessment if necessary. CONTACT: Lottie Rogerson EMAIL: admissions@cottesmoreschool.com SCHOOL VISITS: Open mornings: 10am, 25 Sept and 4 Dec 2021 Virtual 1:1 coffee breaks available with the Headmaster THE CURRICULUM: Cottesmore achieves excellent academic results. The strength of Cottesmore’s academic programme lies within its breadth. There are 21 different curriculum subjects taught. Through this rich variety of intellectual experience, each girl and boy finds their particular strength and this in turn lifts their academic potential. GAMES & THE ARTS: Cottesmorians are equally likely to be found on the stage, the games field or in the art and design studios. A dizzying array of activities and hobbies give each individual pupil confidence, making strong academic results more achievable. PASTORAL CARE: Every new boy or girl is given a ‘shadow’ or buddy who looks after them when they first arrive. Every pupil is matched with, and becomes, a peer mentor or ‘listening ear’. Each pupil has a form tutor (daily logistics), a pastoral tutor (wellbeing), a matron (domestic) and a house master or mistress. Every adult at Cottesmore contributes to the wellbeing of every child. RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Eton College, Downe House, Harrow, Cheltenham Ladies’ College, Radley College, Benenden, Winchester College, Wellington College, Marlborough College, Charterhouse, St Edward’s and other top schools. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: Everyone has a talent. Whatever creative or academic outlet makes a child tick, Cottesmore finds and nurtures it. Endeavour and fun are the most important elements of intellectual life at Cottesmore. Success follows an explosion of discovery and purposefulness. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Cottesmore is an award-winning academic boarding prep school for boys and girls in West Sussex, less than an hour from London. Cottesmore provides a coach service to SW London, which is popular with London families. Cottesmore has been preparing children for major public schools since 1894 and continues to provide excellent preparation for senior boarding schools who share Cottesmore’s belief in nurturing a rounded, dynamic individual.
Dunottar School
ADDRESS: Dunottar School, High Trees Road, Reigate, Surrey RH2 7EL WEBSITE: www.dunottarschool.com FOUNDED: 1926 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 424 AGES: 11–18 FEES: £6,127 for Direct Debit payments and £6,207 for other methods HEAD TEACHER: Mark Tottman RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England (welcomes all faiths or none) ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Assessment, interview and group activities Occasional places in other year groups. CONTACT: Romey Tottman, Head of Admissions EMAIL: admissions@dunottarschool.com SCHOOL VISITS: Open mornings are held throughout the year. Please visit the school website for details THE CURRICULUM: A well-balanced curriculum is the foundation for innovative teaching where technology is used creatively to enhance learning. Pupils are encouraged to be determined, inquisitive and actively engaged in their learning. GAMES & THE ARTS: Sport is competitive, enjoyable and inclusive. Rugby and football are the main boys’ sports, with netball and lacrosse for girls and cricket, swimming and athletics for all. The arts flourish with choirs and ensembles, dramatic productions and excellent creative facilities. PASTORAL CARE: The atmosphere at Dunottar is truly special. Pastoral wellbeing is vital to children’s development and Dunottar recognises that pupils need to feel safe, fulfilled and happy in order to thrive. The school strives to allow every pupil to be themselves, with their own unique needs, strengths and potential. This exceptional standard of care ensures that each student has the confidence to contribute and succeed. UNIVERSITY PLACES: Tailored support ensures success in UK and international institutions. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: My philosophy on education is that it is all about learning to improve. I love being able to inspire pupils to achieve more than they thought possible. We create a vibrant, supportive community where pupils grow in confidence, responding well to setbacks and seeking out new challenges for themselves. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: The stunning Palladian mansion is set in 15 acres of beautiful grounds and the excellent facilities include a swimming pool, large sports hall with four-lane cricket net system, a state-of-the-art sixth-form centre with study space, cafeteria and recreation room and a £4.5m Performing Arts Centre with 500-seat theatre, drama studio and music rooms.
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Multi award-winning education on campus & online Leading HMC co-educational day & boarding school with a unique, award-winning approach to Wellbeing, Innovation & Digital and Learning & Teaching.
Caterham School is easily accessed from London, Surrey, Kent, Sussex Our extensive coach network includes mainline train connections and evening late bus service. 01883 335058 | admissions@caterhamschool.co.uk |
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SPG
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Bedales School Babington House School Independent Day School from 3 to 18 years Grange Drive, Chislehurst, Kent BR7 5ES Headmaster: Mr T Lello, MA, FRSA, NPQH, PGCE
Inspiring Teachers, Inspiring Children
Achieving amazing results from Nursery to Sixth Form Virtual Open Morning available now: www.babingtonhouse.com
ADDRESS: Church Road, Steep, Petersfield GU32 2DG WEBSITE: www.bedales.org.uk FOUNDED: 1893 NUMBER OF PUPILS: Bedales Pre-prep, Dunannie: 98; Bedales Prep, Dunhurst: 205; Bedales Senior School: 480 AGES: 3-8 (Dunannie); 8-13 (Dunhurst); 13-18 (Bedales) FEES: (Termly) Nursery: £447-£620; Dunannie: £3,330-£4,350; Dunhurst: Day £5,785-£6,415; Boarding £7,590-£8,520; Bedales: Day £9,745; Boarding £12,400 HEAD TEACHER: Magnus Bashaarat RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Entry points at 2 yrs 9 mths, 7+, 8+, 11+, 13+, 16+. Selection by assessment/residential assessment and interview. CONTACT: 01730 711733 (Bedales) and 01730 711558 (D&D) EMAIL: admissions@bedales.org.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Open Mornings, Bedales: 18 Sept 2021 (16+), 2 Oct 2021, 27 Nov 2021, 5 Feb 2022, 5 March 2022 (virtual), 23 April 2022. Dunhurst and Dunannie: 11 Sept 2021, 5 March 2022 and 14 May 2022. For information about Taster Days please contact Admissions. THE CURRICULUM: From the very youngest, pupils ‘learn through doing’ with a curriculum that has breadth and depth. In the senior school, students take a combination of IGCSEs and its own Bedales Assessed Courses (recognised by UCAS) in Global Awareness and Digital Game Design, for example. Sixth formers take enrichment courses in addition to A Levels. GAMES & THE ARTS: Bedales competes in many sports including football, hockey, tennis, cricket and netball. Excellent facilities include floodlit astroturf hockey pitches, tennis and netball courts and an indoor swimming pool. The school is acclaimed for its drama, theatre, art and music with opportunities for participation in performances and concerts, including overseas tours. PASTORAL CARE: Every student is assigned to a house parent with whom they build a close relationship, and a tutor who monitors and guides their academic progress, tailoring support to the individual. Tutor groups and dormitories are mixed age, to encourage communication and shared experience across the years. There is a separate 6.2 (upper sixth) house. RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Scholarships are available from 10+ for music and academic, 13+ for art, and 16+ for drama, sport and design.
Independent school and nursery for girls and boys aged 2-11, where there’s more to a good education. Take a virtual tour at bansteadprep.com/admissions SUTTON LANE | BANSTEAD | ADMISSIONS@BANSTEADPREP.COM | 01737 363600
HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: Bedales was founded to be different from the schools of its time. Where others imposed conformity, Bedales nurtured individuality, initiative and curiosity. We led the country in replacing many GCSEs with our own more interesting and demanding Bedales Assessed Courses 15 years ago. This breadth of vision continues undiminished, as we shape our work to meet the challenges of the day and prepare our students for a complex, turbulent world. Our students are naturally inquisitive and eager to explore and challenge ideas. They build strong relationships with each other and their teachers based on mutual respect. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Shared progressive ethos and vision across the three Bedales schools with impressive university destinations including Oxbridge, music conservatoires, art college and overseas institutions such as Yale. Innovation in the curriculum with high expectations. 120 acre estate in the South Downs National Park, complete with working farm which has plenty of opportunities for pupil involvement.
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SPG Advert 202012_Layout 1 23/09/2020 15:36 Page 1
Transformation through education Offering more fee assisted places than other independent schools.
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I N D E P E N D E N T D AY & B O A R D I N G S C H O O L FO R B OYS & G I R L S AG E D 2 - 1 8 ON THE EDGE OF THE NEW FOREST
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Cumnor House Boys’ School
Cumnor House Girls
ADDRESS: 168 Pampisford Road, South Croydon CR2 6DA WEBSITE: www.cumnorhouse.com FOUNDED: 1931 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 335 AGES: 2-13 FEES: From £4,135 – £4,970 HEAD TEACHER: Emma Edwards, Head of School RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England with pupils following many faiths. ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Non selective but with high academic standards. Pupils spend a morning taking part in lessons and we observe and talk to the child to see if they will thrive in our environment. CONTACT: Thea Phillips, Head of Admissions EMAIL: admissions@cumnorhouse.com SCHOOL VISITS: Open mornings and private tours
ADDRESS: 1 Woodcote Ln, Purley CR8 3HB WEBSITE: www.cumnorhouse.com FOUNDED: 1931 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 112 AGES: 2-11 FEES: £4,970 HEAD TEACHER: Amanda McShane RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England with pupils following many faiths ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Non selective but with high academic standards. Pupils spend a morning taking part in lessons and we observe and talk to the child to see if they will thrive in our environment. CONTACT: Thea Phillips, Head of Admissions; 02086 603445 EMAIL: admissions@cumnorhouse.com SCHOOL VISITS: Open mornings and private tours
THE CURRICULUM: We follow the National Curriculum Plus, where our pupils work ahead of the age related expectations and are taught by specialist teachers in music, Spanish, games and swimming from a young age. As they reach the Upper School we introduce even more specialist teachers in all subjects.
THE CURRICULUM: Our academics are outstanding but we believe that we are educating a whole person so we offer a broad curriculum and place emphasis on developing character and skills for the future.
GAMES & THE ARTS: The annual school production casts over 70 pupils and is performed at a local theatre. We also have an annual art exhibition and our games teams have won regional and national competitions. We are a top 50 school for cricket in the country. PASTORAL CARE: This is the place where children learn to be empathetic, have self-belief, be brave, do their utmost with earnestness and build strong moral principles. Our guiding values of compassion, belief, courage, endeavour and integrity are embedded through the school from Kindergarten to Year 8. Our teachers pride themselves in putting the wellbeing of the child first. With outstanding class and form teachers, our pupils are happy and excited to come into school. RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: 41 scholarships and awards this year to independent senior schools. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: My philosophy is closely aligned to our school values and is one of compassion and kindness. All pupils need to know that they are valued and that we care by supporting their pastoral and academic needs and by creating an exciting and inspiring environment in which they will thrive. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: We have a long tradition of excellent Sport and Music. With our outstanding facilities, including the sports ground, our pupils excel in football, rugby and cricket. Our swimming squad are Croydon Schools’ winners 11 years running. We also benefit from a state-of-the-art DT workshop, art room, science labs and a dedicated Music House.
GAMES & THE ARTS: Cumnor girls love their sport, developing skills and competing. Music and Drama play a key part of our curriculum with opportunities to shine on stage. Pupils’ beautiful artwork is displayed around the school inspiring others. PASTORAL CARE: Pastoral care is embedded in all that we do at Cumnor, every teacher knows every child whether they teach them or not. Teachers take the time to know each child as an individual, whether that is in form time, in the playground or over lunch. As a result, our girls are happy, confident and feel valued, safe and secure. RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Every year many girls achieve scholarships to outstanding senior schools. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: First and foremost I want my pupils to be happy. It is about educating the whole child, equipping them with life skills - this includes self-assuredness, skills of oracy and self-reflection. I want my girls to be unafraid to think creatively and to be bold enough to share that thinking. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Happy, confident learners with outstanding academics and results. A true family and community ethos with a breadth of opportunity both in and out of the classroom. We are a forward thinking and innovative preparatory school with traditional values where each pupil is recognised for who they are.
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Farleigh School
King Edward’s Witley
ADDRESS: Red Rice, Andover, Hampshire SP11 7PW WEBSITE: www.farleighschool.com FOUNDED: 1982 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 460 AGES: 3-13 FEES: (termly) KG: £1,905; pre-prep, £3,815; Year 3 day to Year 8 boarding, £6,560-£9,030 HEAD TEACHER: Fr Simon Everson RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Roman Catholic, all faiths welcome ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Non-selective CONTACT: Sarah O’Rorke, Registrar, 01264 712838 EMAIL: admissions@farleighschool.com SCHOOL VISITS: Individual visits, as well as 2 to 3 open mornings per year. Next open morning: 9 Oct 2021
ADDRESS: Witley, Godalming, Surrey GU8 5SG WEBSITE: www.kesw.org FOUNDED: 1553 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 400 AGES: 11-18 FEES: Lower school boarding: £11,225; day £5,595. Forms 3–5 boarding £11,225; day £6,840. (Pre-) sixth form boarding £11,665; day £7,195 HEAD TEACHER: Joanna Wright BA RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Admission at 11, 13 and 16 via entrance examination and interview. CONTACT: Justin Benson, Director of Admissions, 01428 686735 EMAIL: admissions@kesw.org SCHOOL VISITS: Prospective pupils are welcome at Open Mornings or individual visits. Year 9 open morning: 10am 16 Sept. Year 7 open morning: 10am 9th Oct. Please arrange visits through Admissions.
THE CURRICULUM: The stimulating curriculum is broad and tailored to individual needs. Our multi-sensory approach encompasses every type of learner; specialist teachers and imaginative teaching methods ensure all children thrive.
THE CURRICULUM: A King Edward’s education is a rounded education. All academic staff are subject specialists, GCSE/IGCSE in Year 11 followed by a choice of A-levels or the IB Diploma programme in the Sixth Form. Young people discover new skills, talents and enthusiasms and are encouraged to set their sights high. Our rich co-curricular programme broadens their horizons.
GAMES & THE ARTS: Sport, Art, DT, Music and Drama are pupil-centred and all-inclusive with countless opportunities to develop interests and discover talents. PASTORAL CARE: Our Catholic ethos values every individual and we go to great lengths to ensure the fulfilment and happiness of every child. Pastoral care is inextricably linked to the structural organisation of the school, through the quality of teaching and learning, the exceptional relationships between staff and pupils, and between the pupils themselves. RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Academic (Ampleforth, Dauntsey’s, Downe House, Marlborough, Sherborne, Sherborne Girls), Art (Ampleforth, Bryanston, Radley), Drama (Ampleforth, Bryanston, Downside, Radley, Sherborne, Sherborne Girls, Tudor Hall), Music (Bryanston, Marlborough, Radley, Wellington) and Sport (Ampleforth, Canford, Downside, Sherborne). HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: Farleigh is a place of energy and spirited enquiry. Boys and girls of all abilities thrive in the warm and safe environment which values every individual and prepares them for senior school and beyond. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Outstanding boarding provision, value-added academic and social development for children of all abilities with successful transition to senior schools due to excellent, individualised preparation. A stunning 70-acre site with exceptional facilities that enhance pupils’ learning: a new music school, flood-lit all weather pitch and tennis courts, theatre, indoor swimming pool, Forest School, after school activities and wrap around care.
GAMES & THE ARTS: King Edward’s is a wonderfully safe place for youthful adventure and curiosity. On our 100-acre site in the Surrey Hills we have space for many sports, drama, music, hobbies, and intellectual pursuits. Our sports programme is built on the latest research with activities that blend breadth with specific development, offering a vast array of Physical Education programmes. Music flourishes in and out of the classroom, with twenty choirs, orchestras and specialist instrumental ensembles from chamber to rock music. PASTORAL CARE: All pupils benefit from small class sizes and our House system with its supportive pastoral networks at the heart of school life. Each House is committed to strong connections with a single team of boarders and day pupils. Diversity has been a strength since our founding in 1553. Most of our 400 pupils are local but we attract students from more than 40 countries, teaching us what it means to be part of the wider human family. UNIVERSITY PLACES: The vast majority of pupils proceed to university, including Oxbridge. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: We encourage pupils to be the best versions of themselves – individual achievement and personal growth count more than league tables. Our unique heritage and place among British co-ed independent schools means we can provide the best preparation for adult life to a wider range of young people than almost any other institution. We aim to inspire a love of independent learning, lasting friendships, Christian values and hopeful vision. King Edward’s is an extraordinary, distinctive, forward-thinking and global minded community. It is a wonderful place to be. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: In 2021, 89 per cent of IB students got A*-B A-level equivalent. 97 per cent of GCSE grades at A*-C in all subjects. Weekly and occasional boarding and a flexible day. Easy rail links – 51 minutes from London Waterloo.
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King’s Rochester
ADDRESS: King’s Rochester, Satis House, Boley Hill, Rochester, Kent ME1 1TE WEBSITE: www.kings-rochester.co.uk FOUNDED: 604 AD NUMBER OF PUPILS: 604 AGES: 3–18 FEES: £2,540 – £6,900 per term HEAD TEACHER: Ben Charles RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Selective, means tested CONTACT: Registrar, 01634 888590 EMAIL: admissions@kings-rochester.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Open day 25 Sept 2021 & Online Virtual Tour
THE CURRICULUM: A wide choice of languages, arts, humanities and science subjects to meet the requirements of the National Curriculum and 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 across 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: Many students accept offers from top universities and arts colleges. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: Work Hard, Play Hard, Look After Each Other. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: King’s is the second oldest school in the UK and the oldest Cathedral School in the world, offering a traditional British education in the heart of historic Rochester. We are able to provide small class sizes, excellent facilities and an individualised education targeted to the needs of each pupil with many of our teachers specialising in their given field. We are also one of few schools in Kent that offer Computer Science as a subject choice and all three CCF contingents (Army, Navy and RAF). Even once a pupil has moved on to working world or further education they remain connected to King’s through the Old Roffensian alumni society.
The Pilgrims’ School
ADDRESS: 3 The Close, Winchester, Hampshire SO23 9LT WEBSITE: www.thepilgrims-school.co.uk FOUNDED: 1931 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 241 AGES: 4-13 FEES: (termly) prep-prep, £3,914; prep, £6,819; prep boarding (from Year 4), £8,688 HEAD TEACHER: Dr Sarah Essex RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Taster day at school that incorporates academic assessment plus reference from current school. CONTACT: Emma Short, Registrar EMAIL: admissions@pilgrims-school.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Visitors very welcome. Open mornings and events published on website. School tours by arrangement with Registrar. THE CURRICULUM: School is exciting, learning is exciting. Pilgrims’ is a place of outstanding personalised learning and teaching. We take great care to ensure that the interests and specific talents of each boy are valued and developed across our broad curriculum, co-curriculum, and extra-curriculum. GAMES & THE ARTS: A progressive approach to games; traditional sports are played daily. Winter games are football, rugby and hockey. In the summer, cricket and athletics. Art, drama and design & technology are much loved. Music is an exceptional strength. PASTORAL CARE: Our pastoral care is exemplary. Not only do we have a deputy head pastoral, a director of wellbeing and a lay chaplain, we also have heads of year, form teachers and vertical tutor groups looking after not just the academic but also the pastoral life of the boys. In addition, we have a team of boarding house parents, nurses and matrons working together to provide excellent care. RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Winchester College, Eton College, Radley College, Canford, Sherborne, Marlborough College, Magdalen College School: academic, music, art, sport. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: The Pilgrims’ School is the perfect place for boys from reception to year 8 to learn and grow up – to find their passions and nurture them. It is a place of outstanding personalised learning and teaching. All boys move onto their senior schools with confidence having made excellent progress academically and pastorally. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Pilgrims’ is a day and boarding school for boys age 4-13. With its outstanding academic results it feeds the top independent schools in the country. A double choir school in a unique position, between Winchester Cathedral and Winchester College. Delicious food is cooked on-site using fresh local ingredients. Its exceptional pastoral care makes it stand out from the rest.
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Open Morning Saturday 15th January
“
Once we had seen Highfield and Brookham none of the other schools compared.
”
Nursery, Pre-Prep & Prep • 2-13 years Liphook, Hampshire GU30 7LQ • highfieldandbrookham.co.uk • 01428 728000
St Hilary’s Preparatory School Godalming
Boys & Girls Ages 2—11
Open Mornings 18th September, 1st & 2nd October Personal Tours by Arrangement
“Happy, charming and academically successful” The Good Schools Guide
sthilarysschool co Tel: 01483 416551 • @StHilarysSchool ail: re istrar@sthilarysschool co
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MAY
Mayfield AN IND EP ENDENT BOAR DING AND DAY SCHOOL FOR GIR LS AGED 11 TO 18
OUTSTANDING ACADEMIC RESULTS • SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE EXTENSIVE CO-CURRICULAR PROGRAMME EXEMPLARY PASTORAL CARE & NURTURING ENVIRONMENT STATE OF THE ART EQUESTRIAN CENTRE SET IN THE BEAUTIFUL SUSSEX COUNTRYSIDE FLEXI, WEEKLY AND FULL BOARDING OPTIONS 50 MINUTES FROM CENTRAL LONDON BY TRAIN WEEKEND RETURN BUS TO LONDON
Open Mornings SATURDAY 25 TH SEPTEMBER & TUESDAY 9 TH NOVEMBER TO BOOK YOUR PLACE VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO ARRANGE A VISIT PLEASE CONTACT MRS SHIRLEY COPPARD, REGISTRAR@MAYFIELDGIRLS.ORG
WWW.MAYFIELDGIRLS.ORG
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School of the Year 2020-2021
VISIT US virtually or in person
ANNUAL OPEN MORNING Saturday 25 September 2021
SIXTH FORM OPEN EVENING Wednesday 29 September 2021
“Happy kids, great results” The Good Schools Guide
Reigate Grammar School, Reigate Road, Reigate, Surrey RH2 0QS 01737 222231 | admissions@reigategrammar.org | reigategrammar.org
WORKING OPEN MORNINGS LIVE Q&A AND INDIVIDUAL TOURS Please visit rgs.to/open-sh for dates, information and to register for an event
reigategrammarschool | @reigategrammar | reigategrammar
RECOMMENDED REED’S Visit our
‘Excellent in every category’ LAST ISI INSPECTION
website for OPEN MORNING dates Our Values: An education for life 01932 869001 admissions@reeds.surrey.sch.uk Sandy Lane, Cobham Surrey KT11 2ES reeds.surrey.sch.uk Founded 1813 Patron: HM The Queen HMC Day & Boarding School for boys 11-18 and girls 16-18
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FROM A FINE MIND
TO A GOOD HEART
For example, two of the top three winners in the 2021 British Maths Olympiad are Tonbridge boys, whilst our Laptops Appeal saw the school community provide 160 computers to families without access to remote learning during the lockdown. We are a meritocracy, looking for bright boys from whatever life background. Come and see how we forge the connection between the intellectual and the human.
Arrange a visit: admissions@tonbridge-school.org tonbridge-school.co.uk
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Discover your path PRINCIPLED OPEN-MINDED COMPASSIONATE
TASIS England inspires students to become life-long learners who are internationally-minded and committed to service leadership as they discover their own pathway to the future. Leading international school for day (ages 3-18) & boarding (ages 13-18) Average class size of 15 students International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme & Advanced Placement (AP) courses
Open Events BOOK YOUR PLACE tasisengland.org/discover
60 nationalities & 30 languages spoken on campus 35 minutes from central London & 20 minutes from Heathrow Airport tasisengland.org | ukadmissions@tasisengland.org | +44 (0)1932 582316
The New Beacon Brittains Lane Sevenoaks TN13 2PB Preparatory School for Boys 3-13 years Coeducational Nursery
LOVE LEARNING, LOVE LIFE. www.newbeacon.org.uk
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Reed’s School
ARe yOU REady FOR AN adVENTuRE?
You can start your Sherfield journey at any age from 3 months to 18 years! Based in Hook, Hampshire, we are a co-educational independent school that offers full, weekly and flexi-boarding options as well as a day school. Book a tour today to discover what makes Sherfield special
ADDRESS: Sandy Lane, Cobham, Surrey, KT11 2ES WEBSITE: www.reeds.surrey.sch.uk FOUNDED: 1813 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 770 (672 boys, 98 girls) AGES: 11-18 (boys); 16-18 (girls) FEES: Day: £6,980 (years 7 – 8), £8,720 (years 9 – 13); boarding: £9,300 (years 7 – 8), £11,240 (years 9 – 13) HEAD TEACHER: Mark Hoskins BA MA MSc RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England, although open to and respectful of all religious faiths ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Admission at 11+, 13+ and 16+ via entrance examination and interview CONTACT: Registrar, 01932 869001 EMAIL: admissions@reeds.surrey.sch.uk SCHOOL VISITS: See the website for virtual visit and open mornings THE CURRICULUM: The philosophy behind the educational curriculum at Reed’s is based on three dimensions: core knowledge, skills, and values. The ability to impart information, share knowledge and make connections across multiple disciplines is crucial. GAMES & THE ARTS: The excellent Activities Curriculum is integral to the broad educational experience and there is an expectation that pupils will take advantage of every opportunity on offer. Service is a key aspect encouraging pupils to show integrity and responsibility as well as compassion toward others. PASTORAL CARE: The bedrock of a Reed’s education is the quality of the pastoral care given. It underpins the very essence of school life and places pupils at the heart of the school, with an emphasis on values and character to provide a rounded education. This is critical to produce happy and secure children who will thrive in and outside the classroom. The House system and boarding infrastructure provide the wrap-around care that benefits all pupils. UNIVERSITY PLACES: Every year pupils achieve a number of Oxbridge and medical offers. The vast majority go to Russell Group universities. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: We are a dynamic school providing an excellent education that inspires our pupils to achieve their full potential, prepares them for a rapidly changing world and equips them with the ability to think critically and independently, Instilling our values of Compassion, Curiosity, Resilience, Responsibility and Independence means they leave Reed’s as rounded individuals with a strong moral compass. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: A forward-looking educational curriculum based on core knowledge, values and skills. An all-boys structure from 11 to 16 with a co-educational Sixth Form. A strong sense of community with teachers, parents and pupils working together. Exceptional pastoral care based on the rich heritage of the school. Wraparound care benefits all pupils. Rated ‘excellent’ in all categories in latest ISI Inspection.
www.sherfieldschool.co.uk Autumn/Winter 2021 | SCHOOLHOUSEMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 205
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St Edmund’s Canterbury
ADDRESS: St Thomas Hill, Canterbury, Kent CT2 8HU WEBSITE: www.stedmunds.org.uk FOUNDED: 1749 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 262 girls, 296 boys AGES: 3-18 FEES: Nursery and pre-prep, from £2,698; prep day, from £5,325; prep boarding, from £8,697; senior day, £7,220; senior boarding, from £11,682 HEAD TEACHER: Edward O’Connor, MA , MPhil, MEd RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Entry into school by visit, assessment and report. Scholarships at 11+, 13+ and 16+ CONTACT: Admissions; 01227 475601 EMAIL: admissions@stedmunds.org.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Recruitment events are taking place throughout the year, please visit the school’s website to book.
THIS BOARDING SCHOOL IS
OUTSTANDING OFSTED
Boarding and Flexi Boarding in a top Surrey school for boys and girls aged 7-18. Full boarding only £5,560 per term. Visit our Virtual Open Morning. Huge range of extra-curricular sports and activities Excellent academic results Situated in 260 acres of parkland near Reigate, Surrey
THE CURRICULUM: A challenging and exciting curriculum throughout the school. Offers GCSE, iGCSE and A level. GAMES & THE ARTS: The school enjoys a fine reputation for its sport, art, music and drama, an integral part of the learning experience. An exciting range of extracurricular activities keep boarders and day pupils engaged. PASTORAL CARE: The wellbeing of every pupil is supported by a comprehensive system of pastoral care. The chaplain performs a central role for the whole school. Regular communication fosters the relationships between the parents, the school and the pupils. UNIVERSITY PLACES: Pupils are given close guidance in making their choices and are successful in achieving places at their first choice university, including Oxford, Cambridge, UCL and Durham. Pupils also go on to leading institutions including London drama schools and the Royal Academy of Music. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: We inspire creativity through a lifelong love of learning and nurture original thinkers who have a desire to make a difference. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: St Edmund’s offers an exceptional school experience where pupils are treated as individuals. One site for all pupils aged 3–18 including the Canterbury Cathedral choristers. Located on a beautiful site overlooking Canterbury, the school is within easy reach of the South East and London, and under an hour from London on the high speed train.
Gatton Park, Reigate, Surrey RH2 0TD admissions@gatton-park.org.uk Tel: 01737 649000 www.raa-school.co.uk @RAASchoolGatton 206 | SCHOOLHOUSEMAGAZINE.CO.UK | Autumn/Winter 2021
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St C
Independent Schools Inspectorate
FACTS & FIGURES 28 A Level subjects 94% A*- B at A Level 7 Average class size 88 Leadership roles 15 Careers events a year
FACILITIES The 6 – new Sixth Form Centre opened Spring 2021 Sixth Form Library State-of-the-art Auditorium Specialist Sports Facilities
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Rowan Prep School
Sevenoaks Prep School
ADDRESS: 6 Fitzalan Road, Claygate, Esher, Surrey KT10 0LX WEBSITE: www.rowanprepschool.co.uk FOUNDED: 1936 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 327 AGES: 2-11 FEES: (termly) from reception, £4,055 - £5,382 HEAD TEACHER: Susan Clarke, BEd, NPQH RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Entry into preschool, reception and Year 3. Occasional places in other year groups. CONTACT: Philippa Edwards, Head of Admissions EMAIL: admissions@rowanprepschool.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Open Mornings are held each term with individual tours of the school also available. Contact us on admissions@rowanprepschool.co.uk to find out more and to register.
ADDRESS: Godden Green, Sevenoaks, Kent TN15 0JU WEBSITE: www.theprep.org.uk FOUNDED: 1919 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 390 AGES: 2-13 FEES: Nursery and kindergarten from £377 per session per term. Annual fees: Reception, £10,970; Years 1-2 £12,515; Years 3-8 £15,162 HEAD TEACHER: Luke Harrison RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England but accept all faiths ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Non-selective CONTACT: TJ Richards EMAIL: admissions@theprep.org.uk SCHOOL VISITS: The school is open to visits and tours any day during term time
THE CURRICULUM: Learning at Rowan gives all girls the chance to investigate, be challenged, take risks and be curious about the world around them. Academics are developed through experiences, adventurous learning and a specialist teaching model.
THE CURRICULUM: Our children feel challenged within a happy, diverse community of learners. They are stretched at a time appropriate to them, producing their individual best without unwarranted pressure. The academic curriculum is enhanced by activities including forest school, coding, debating and critical thinking.
GAMES & THE ARTS: ‘Sport for All’ is our mantra. All girls enjoy regular games, swimming and PE lessons and our excellent facilities support those competing at regional and national levels. Drama and music form a key part of the curriculum with over 95 per cent of girls learning an instrument, performing in musical theatre and choirs. PASTORAL CARE: Over their time at Rowan, the girls develop a toolkit of strategies to manage the small bumps in the road which they will inevitably face in life. Social and emotional skills are cultivated in many ways, from dedicated SEW (Social and Emotional Wellbeing) lessons on their timetables to a highly personalised pastoral programme which keep the individual needs of every girl at the heart of what we do. RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Epsom College, Guildford High, KGS, LEH, SHS, St Catherine’s Bramley, St John’s Leatherhead, SWPS, Tormead School and Wycombe Abbey. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: It is my belief that when a school balances academics, with nurture, support and opportunity to learn about yourself and from others, it is creating an environment which will inspire and nourish every girl. We do this every day at Rowan, ensuring girls are happy, confident and enabled individuals. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: One hundred per cent success rate at 11+ with 40 scholarships awarded. Access to over 20 acres of woodland for adventurous, outdoor learning. Exceptional specialist training in Science & Engineering with a focus on robotics. Strings initiative for all Year 1s to learn the cello or violin. Sport for all approach with a mix of traditional games and extensive co-curricular offerings. Outstanding facilities including specialist spaces for engineering & technology, music, science, library, art and computing.
GAMES & THE ARTS: Creativity and energetic self-expression are encouraged throughout the school. Drama and music afford many opportunities from orchestras, choirs, rock bands, house plays to school productions – both on stage and behind the scenes. We enjoy excellent facilities on our 25-acre site and believe that sport is for all. From Year 3, all children have opportunities to represent the school competitively in a range of sports. PASTORAL CARE: Our ethos is one of nurturing each child and supporting parents and children alike. We understand that children are individuals who mature at different times and in different ways. The children are encouraged to work and play according to our Way of Life. RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: In 2020, all Year 8 leavers were awarded places in their senior schools of choice, some with academic, sport, drama and music scholarships. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: The Prep is a family school that values every member of its community. The school achieves tremendous academic success and encourages its pupils, 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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Walthamstow Hall Junior School
ADDRESS: Bradbourne Park Road, Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 3LD WEBSITE: www.walthamstow-hall.co.uk FOUNDED: 1838 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 145 AGES:3-11 FEES: (termly) Nursery, £325 per session; Reception to Year 2, £4,045; Year 3 – Year 6, £5,180 HEAD TEACHER: Stephanie Ferro, MA (Oxon), MA (London), PGCE (Surrey) RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Christian non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: All girls attend a taster day where they are assessed, this includes test papers from Years 3 – 6. CONTACT: Alex Knight, Registrar; 01732 468703 EMAIL: registrar@whall.school SCHOOL VISITS: Please contact Mrs Knight to arrange a visit. THE CURRICULUM: A broad and well-balanced curriculum is taught by committed teachers. Learning outside the classroom and half-termly whole school theme days, e.g. Courage Day, Environment Day, Community Day are cornerstones to a creative curriculum. GAMES & THE ARTS: An extensive extra-curricular programme encourages the exploration of a diverse range of sporting and artistic interests. Pupils are taught by dedicated sports, art, music and drama specialists. PASTORAL CARE: ‘A caring and nurturing school where effort is celebrated and where learning is fun. The kind of school that girls run into every morning and leave “as the best version of themselves – not someone else’s version of what they should be,” as one parent puts it.’ – The Good Schools Guide 2019 RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: On average, 19 per cent of leavers gain scholarships, mainly to Walthamstow Hall Senior or Sevenoaks School. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: For over 180 years we have been true to our founding aim to provide an education for girls which is full of opportunity, challenge and possibility. At Walthamstow Hall your daughter will discover that learning is an active process which enables her to get personally involved, not one which just passively happens to her. She will recognise that learning is a consequence of thinking. She will not merely pass through a door but be set on a voyage of discovery. We are not promising a polished product, but a profound process. We are not about growing grass which will wither once it faces the real world but cultivating patterns and disciplines of learning that will last a lifetime. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Specialised teaching facilities for young pupils include a science lab, art and DT room, music block and EYFS classrooms. Use of Walthamstow Hall Senior School facilities. Includes weekly swimming and use of School Theatre – for plays and concerts. A ‘Creative Curriculum’, that is enquiry led and topic based, runs across the Early Years stage.
Walthamstow Hall, Sevenoaks
ADDRESS: Holly Bush Lane, Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 3UL WEBSITE: www.walthamstow-hall.co.uk FOUNDED: 1838 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 420 AGES: 11–18 FEES: (termly) Senior School & Sixth Form, £7,070 HEAD TEACHER: Stephanie Ferro, MA (Oxon), MA (Lond), PGCE (Surrey) RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Christian non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Selective entrance examinations and interview at 11+, 13+ and 16+. CONTACT: Alex Knight, Registrar; 01732 468703 EMAIL: registrar@whall.school SCHOOL VISITS: Hybrid virtual and on-site open day: 25 Sept 2021. Book at www.walthamstow-hall.co.uk THE CURRICULUM: Offers unusual breadth, choice and flexibility. Lively teaching from highly qualified, enthusiastic specialists to optimum-sized groups of around 20. Girls study GCSE and A-level. GAMES & THE ARTS: All pupils are encouraged to get involved. There are many opportunities to participate in a rich panoply of artistic, musical, dramatic and sporting activities. Students compete strongly at national and county level in sport and gain places at the National Youth Theatre and Orchestra. National titles currently held in athletics, badminton and swimming. PASTORAL CARE: A supportive and harmonious community where all individuals are respected and contribute. Belief that strong pastoral systems underpin academic progress and that emotional, personal and intellectual development go hand in hand. The personal development of pupils is excellent. They are confident and articulate young people, with a welldeveloped sense of right and wrong and a high degree of emotional maturity. UNIVERSITY PLACES: Typically over 95 per cent of students go to university; in 2020 over 90 per cent to their first choice and over 75 per cent to Russell Group. Higher level apprenticeships recently taken up at Deloitte and IBM. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: For over 180 years we have been true to our founding aim to provide an education for girls which is full of opportunity, challenge and possibility. At Walthamstow Hall your daughter will discover that learning is an active process which enables her to get personally involved, not one which just passively happens to her. She will recognise that learning is a consequence of thinking. She will not merely pass through a door, but be set on a voyage of discovery. We are not promising a polished product, but a profound process. We are not about growing grass which will wither once it faces the real world, but cultivating patterns and disciplines of learning that will last a lifetime. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Inspiring teaching, wonderful facilities, close partnerships between parents, staff and girls and a shared sense of pride in our history and achievements lie at the heart of our success.
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Registered charity 1101358
Westbourne House
Where are the skills your child will need to resolve global conflict? Well, negotiation skills are embedded in the curriculum at Sevenoaks School. Our alumni certainly go on to achieve extraordinary things; equipped as they are with the skills they need to change the waiting world. Stephen Hale for example, mastered negotiation at Sevenoaks. He left to work with Friends of the Earth and Oxfam, amongst others. Now he has an OBE and is CEO at Refugee Action, a UK charity that supports people fleeing war. It’s worth considering then, that many of the skills your child may need to make a significant impact, can be acquired here at Sevenoaks.
www.sevenoaksschool.org Every day at Sevenoaks, students practise negotiation, service provision, team working, critical thinking, creative thinking and complex problem solving; essential skills our alumni will use to reshape their world.
OPEN DAYS 17th & 18th September 2021 admissions@vinehallschool.com
ADDRESS: Coach Road, Chichester, West Sussex, PO20 2BH WEBSITE: www.westbournehouse.org FOUNDED: 1907 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 374 AGES: 2-13 FEES: Reception, £3,660; day Year 5, £6,300; weekly boarding, £7800; full boarding, £8,874 HEAD TEACHER: Martin Barker BA (Ed) RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Non-selective CONTACT: Aline Pilcher, Admissions; 01243 782739 EMAIL: admissions@westbournehouse.org SCHOOL VISITS: Open morning 2 Oct 2021 or contact admissions for a private tour and chat with our headmaster.
THE CURRICULUM: Designed to be holistic and stimulating, daily life at Westbourne House is an unforgettable journey of discovery: science experiments, languages, IT, field trips, drama, art, orchestras, kayaking and more. We attract talented teachers who instil a joy of learning. We systematically teach intellectual curiosity and confident learning, and children are encouraged to be the best they can be. Leadership, peer mentoring, mindfulness, wellness, cultural opportunities, charity work and trips are vital to the experience. GAMES & THE ARTS: Sport is played daily and our excellent coaches build a love of being active. All pupils represent the school in matches. Our new Performing Arts Centre is a hive of music and drama with West End-style shows, all-inclusive productions, ensembles, bands and world music. Art, textiles, food tech, resistant materials and ceramics are much-loved by pupils. PASTORAL CARE: There is a strong sense of family and community. Children feel secure and have a network of support by way of headteachers, teachers, form tutors, pastoral staff and houseparents. Kindness, empathy and our Westbourne Way are key cornerstones which are reinforced daily. Staff give pupils lots of time: we focus on the whole picture of the whole child. DESTINATION SCHOOLS: Bedales, Brighton College, Canford, Charterhouse, Cheltenham Ladies’ College, Cranleigh, Eton, Harrow, Hurst, Lancing, Millfield, Portsmouth High School, Portsmouth Grammar School, Seaford, Sherborne, Stowe, Wellington College. 150+ scholarships since 2017. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: A happy, healthy education is one that lights up young minds, explores the world around them, develops new interests and presents wonderful opportunities. All these elements are at the heart of a Westbourne House education. Our exceptional staff enable every child to become confident, resilient and achieve their best.
An independent day, boarding school and nursery for girls and boys aged 2-13
Vinehall ROBERTSBRIDGE EAST SUSSEX
OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: We are a High Performance Learning (HPL) World Class School and received The Week independent school award for ‘Best for Music’ in 2021. Children love the daily opportunities for independence, self-discovery and adventure in 100 acres of parkland. We build children’s skills for the future with leadership, teamwork and peer mentoring opportunities. Friendly and welcoming boarding experience from Year 4.
VINEHALLSCHOOL.COM
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“An outstanding school - bright children and dedicated staff” Good Schools Guide
START HERE, GO ANYWHERE...
High Road, Woodford Green, Essex IG8 0RF 0208 505 4821 www.bancrofts.org
www.beachborough.com
01280 700071 • admissions@beachborough.com Beachborough School, Westbury, Brackley, NN13 5LB Follow our journey
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@Beachborough
27/05/2021 12:35:58
Developing Remarkable People Since 1541
DISCOVER MORE Pre-Prep • Prep • Girls • Boys • Sixth
berkhamsted.com
admissions@berkhamsted.com
Located in a Chiltern Hills market town just 32 mins direct from
Euston
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Christ Church Cathedral School
ADDRESS: 3 Brewer Street, Oxford OX1 1QW WEBSITE: www.cccs.org.uk FOUNDED: 1546 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 154 AGES: 2-13 FEES: (Termly) From £1,535 for Nursery; from £4,040 for Pre-Prep; £6,025 for Prep; £3,800 for Cathedral Choristers. HEAD TEACHER: Richard Murray RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Non-selective in nursery and pre-prep, subject to a satisfactory taster session; selective in prep. CONTACT: Laura Kemp, Registrar EMAIL: registrar@cccs.org.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Forthcoming open mornings will be announced on the website. THE CURRICULUM: We aim to instil a love of learning in all our pupils. Our curriculum prepares boys for Common Entrance and scholarships to senior schools. French is taught from nursery; from form five English and maths are taught in sets of ten boys. Reading is central to the life of the school. GAMES & THE ARTS: Our playing fields are among the most beautiful in the world. All boys participate in rugby, football, cricket, and athletics. Real tennis, squash and swimming are also on offer. Being a small school, all boys have the opportunity to play in matches. Music permeates the school, which provides choristers for three choirs in Oxford: the Cathedral, Worcester College and Pembroke College. We have a large number of instrumentalists who achieve high grades. School productions are written by our head of classics. PASTORAL CARE: ‘Pupils’ strong personal development is successfully supported by the school’s values and practices. Its caring ethos is promoted consistently throughout all aspects of school life and it stems from the calm and considered leadership provided.’ (ISI Report 2017). Every pupil and member of staff plays a vital part in the creation of a culture of kindness.
d’Overbroeck’s
ADDRESS: 333 Banbury Road, Oxford OX2 7PL WEBSITE: www.doverbroecks.com FOUNDED: 1977 NUMBER OF PUPILS: Year 7-11, 200; Sixth Form, 400 AGES: 11-18 FEES: (termly) Year 7-11 day, £6,325; Sixth Form day, £8,300; Sixth Form boarding, £12,450–£15,100 (full-time); £12,800 (weekly) HEAD TEACHER: Jonathan Cuff RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Year 7-9: application, taster day, references, entrance exams. Sixth Form: application, interview, references. CONTACT: Sixth Form admissions: 01865 688 600 Year 7-11 admissions: 01865 688 731 EMAIL: sixthformadmissions@doverbroecks.com SCHOOL VISITS: Individual visits available by appointment. Register for the school’s virtual and in-person open events on their website.
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THE CURRICULUM: A broad curriculum in Years 7-11 and a varied range of 35 A-Level subjects in Sixth Form. Subject choices are available in any combination; there are no option blocks. Sixth Form academic enrichment options include the Extended Project Qualification and ‘super-curricular’ activities. GAMES & THE ARTS: A busy co-curricular programme of over 50 sports and activities across the school. A Tennis Academy is available to develop exceptional tennis players. Strong art, drama and music departments. New Sixth Form facilities include a dedicated Arts Centre for art, photography and textiles. PASTORAL CARE: Outstanding pastoral care regularly praised by students and parents. Major strength is support and encouragement for students. d’Overbroeck’s is very much a ‘people place’ where each individual thrives. First-name terms highlight a sense of working together, underpinned by a high level of mutual respect. Years 7-11 is for day pupils only and they are taught in small classes. At the Sixth Form, each student has a Director of Studies who meets with them individually to discuss progress.
RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Eton College, Harrow, Winchester College, Radley College, Magdalen College, Abingdon School and St Edward’s School.
RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Years 7-11: academic, art, drama and music. Sixth Form: academic, art, drama, music, media, sport, Tennis Academy and Broadening Horizons.
HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: We have high expectations of our pupils; to take any other approach is an insult to those in our care. Our teachers are exceptional, and it is their inspiration which sows the seeds of a love of learning. Manners are seen as the outward sign of a civilised life, of kindness, thoughtfulness and proper self-confidence.
HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: d’Overbroeck’s is built on personal relationships, a lack of stuffiness and a strong belief that every individual lies at the heart of the school. Students are creative, think for themselves, relish stretching the boundaries of their knowledge and do very well academically. It’s a forward-thinking school full of energy, laughter and achievement.
OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: We are an intimate school set in an incomparably beautiful city with stunning playing fields and Woodland School. Three outstanding choirs, one of which is world famous, are at the heart of our community. Our children are intellectually vibrant, charming and self-motivated. Our school dogs, Gordon, Thistle and Tikka, help the children feel at home.
OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: An inclusive, collaborative approach with a 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, being independent thinkers and feeling happy in themselves. Large direct entry into Sixth Form (day, weekly and full-time boarding options). Outstanding value added: 27% A* at A-Level in 2020 and 40% grades 9-8 at GCSE.
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“
They said ‘If it’s important to Ruby’s happiness then it’s important for us’.
Discover a family-friendly boarding school for your daughter by visiting
www.downehouse.net Plan an individual visit or join us for one of our Open Mornings on 11 September, 13 November 2021 and 15 January 2022 An independent boarding school for girls aged 11-18 years T: 01635 204701 E: registrar@downehouse.net
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Dragon School
ADDRESS: Bardwell Road, Oxford OX2 6SS WEBSITE: www.dragonschool.org FOUNDED: 1877 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 800 AGES: 4-13 FEES: (termly) pre-prep from £4,239; prep day from £7,473; prep boarders from £10,931 HEAD TEACHER: Emma Goldsmith (from September 2021) RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Interview and age-appropriate assessment. Main entry points are Reception, Years 3, 4 and 7. Places in other year groups may be available. CONTACT: Kate Heath, Registrar EMAIL: admissions@dragonschool.org SCHOOL VISITS: Individual family tours can also be arranged. Open days: pre-prep, 17 Sept 2021; prep, 18 Sept 2021; virtual, 2 Oct 2021
Papplewick
ADDRESS: Windsor Road, Ascot, Berkshire SL5 7LH WEBSITE: www.papplewick.org.uk FOUNDED: 1947 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 210 AGES: 6-13 FEES: Boarding, £10,720; International (Child Student Visa), £11,980. Day, Year 2, £5,930; Years 3 and 4, £7,765; Years 5 and 6, £8,235. 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: Rebecca Lindley, 01344 621488 EMAIL: registrar@papplewick.org.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Next Open Morning on Sat 6 Nov 2021 from 9am – noon
THE CURRICULUM: Our distinctive approach encourages enquiry, confidence and enthusiasm. The wide-ranging curriculum is delivered by inspiring specialist teachers who are passionate about their subjects with impressive facilities for Science, Art, DT and ICT.
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: The Dragon offers a busy calendar of fixtures in all mainstream sports as well as the opportunity to try more unusual ones such as sculling, polo and judo. Music and Drama are very popular with plays, productions and 60 music ensembles and notable actors as alumni.
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: The Dragon strives to create a happy, secure, stimulating learning environment where children can grow and develop as individuals. The Dragon’s nurturing programme enhances self-awareness, personal empowerment, self-esteem and empathy. We promote our Dragon values of kindness, courage and respect and encourage a sense of service to others and a willingness to take responsibility. Philanthropy and social impact are part of the curriculum from Reception onwards.
PASTORAL CARE: A school which celebrates individuality and where boys can still be boys. The tutor/houseparent system ensures outstanding pastoral care.
RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: 2021 leavers: 46 academic or specialist awards at a wide range of leading schools including Eton, St. Edward’s Oxford, Oundle, Winchester, Wycombe Abbey, Radley, Cheltenham Ladies’ College, Stowe, Harrow and Marlborough College.
HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: The excellence our boys achieve is worth little unless they are happy – thus, our most coveted prize is for greatest enthusiasm for life, contribution to the community and kindness to others.
HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: Each young Dragon is encouraged to be independent, try new things and develop interests both within the classroom and beyond. Talents are uncovered and ambitions nurtured; lifelong friendships are forged and challenges embraced. Families are welcomed into our unique, vibrant and happy community – ‘Once a Dragon, always a Dragon’.
OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Tatler Good Schools Guide award: Prep School of the Year 2018-19. Exceptional scholarship record. Outstanding preparation for top public schools. Best known for happy, confident and well-mannered boys. Three daily London transport services run from Brook Green, Hammersmith, and Gloucester Road area. Comprehensive daily activities programme (30 activities including 100-strong snake club). Daily chapel. Modern and family-friendly approach to boarding.
OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: The Dragon is set on the edge of beautiful Oxford with playing fields running down to the River Cherwell. Dragon QUEST is an exciting enrichment programme offering children a choice of activities ranging from archery or paddle-boarding to debating or a trip to a working farm. Boarders – full, weekly and flexi – stay in family-style boarding houses adjacent to the school and there is a weekly bus from central London.
RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Papplewick maintains its high academic record gaining no less than 41 scholarships to top UK Senior schools in the past three years, including two King’s Scholarships to Eton College.
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Prep School for ages 4 -13
CONSISTENTLY BRILLIANT Preparatory school for day and boarding pupils aged 4-13
Horris Hill, Newtown Newbury RG20 9DJ
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Nurturing environment in 65 acres of countryside
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Academic excellence and top senior school entry for 130 years
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Outstanding co-curricular opportunities and pastoral care
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Full, weekly and transition family-friendly boarding
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Wrap around care for all day pupils
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Weekly transport from London, Winchester and Marlborough
For more information or to arrange a tour, CONTACT:
01635 40594 registrar@horrishill.com
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Edgeborough Fa r n h a m , S u r r e y
“Inclusive, ambitious and a huge amount of fun.” The Good Schools Guide, 2019
OPENMORNING Friday 1st October
Nursery|Pre-Prep|Prep Flexi-Boarding www.edgeborough.co.uk 01252 792495
OPEN MORNINGS
SATURDAY 25 SEPTEMBER 2021 FRIDAY 18 MARCH 2022 Appointments Required School bus routes from Gerrards Cross, Beaconsfield, Chorleywood, High Wycombe and surrounding villages
www.beaconschool.co.uk 01494 432764
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“Meaningful moments and a lifetime of memories.” Ours is a community that will lift up your heart. Established in 1862, Haileybury is a top co-educational boarding and day school for 11–18 year olds on a historic 500 acre campus in Hertfordshire, just 20 miles north of London. UK enquiries: uk.admissions@haileybury.com International enquiries: int.admissions@haileybury.com 01992 706 353 Haileybury.com
HaileyburyUK
Scan to see the film
Lifting Hearts
What if you could learn from anywhere? +44 (0)1865 664400
www.greenes.org.uk
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Queen Anne’s School, Caversham
Ludgrove
ADDRESS: Henley Road, Caversham, Reading, Berkshire, RG4 6DX WEBSITE: www.qas.org.uk FOUNDED: 1894 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 424 AGES: 11-18 FEES: (termly) day £8,370; flexi-boarding £12,250 – £12,920; full boarding £13,590 HEAD TEACHER: Julia Harrington to Dec 2021. Elaine Purves succeeds Julia in Jan 2022, following headship at St. John’s International, Belgium. RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England, accepts all/no faith/s. ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Assessment day and Common Entrance CONTACT: Registrar, Rachel Wright; 01189 187 300 EMAIL: admissions@qas.org.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Open morning 11 Sept 2021, 19 Nov 2021 and 4 March 2021. Sixth form open evening 30 Sept 2021. Contact admissions for more information on individual visits.
ADDRESS: Ludgrove, Wokingham, Berkshire RG40 3AB WEBSITE: www.ludgrove.net FOUNDED: 1892 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 186 all boys AGES: 8-13 FEES: £9,775 per term HEAD TEACHER: Simon Barber RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England predominantly ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Non-selective in Year 4, with assessment in subsequent years CONTACT: Rebecca Philpott, Registrar; 01189 789881 EMAIL: registrar@ludgroveschool.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Open days in May and Sept, two years prior to entry for registered boys. Individual visits by appointment with the registrar
THE CURRICULUM: Academic teaching is structured to allow each girl’s needs to be met so they can thrive and achieve. The broad curriculum encourages subject engagement, leading to a passion for learning. GAMES & THE ARTS: A rich programme of co-curricular activities provides students with opportunities in the arts, drama, music and sport. Young musicians thrive in the state-of-the-art Scott Music Centre and it’s not uncommon for girls at Queen Anne’s to represent their county and country at a range of sporting events. PASTORAL CARE: The excellent reputation of the school’s pastoral care is widespread. Queen Anne’s recognises that girls perform best when they are happy and secure, to ensure this there are effective pastoral systems in place. The girls enjoy success whilst having fun and building strong relationships within a caring environment which encourages girls to find their own path and flourish as individuals. UNIVERSITY PLACES: Many students continue their education at top UK and overseas universities, studying a range of subjects. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: There is no such thing as a ‘Queen Anne’s girl’! 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 site combines traditional and contemporary architecture, which hosts cutting-edge facilities. Boasts a TES award-winning Sixth Form Centre. State-of-the-art facilities within the music centre, including recording studio and recital hall. Excellent transport network to the surrounding area and London. ISI Inspection 2017 rated ‘EXCELLENT’.
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 in a 350-seat theatre, and many sports, making the most of playing fields, cricket nets, squash and Fives courts, astroturf and a 20m indoor swimming pool. PASTORAL CARE: We have an outstanding body of staff who get to know the boys incredibly well, thereby understanding what makes each individual tick. Sophie Barber, the Headmaster’s wife, oversees the pastoral care and together with the resident matrons, school nurse, boarding house parents and all other staff is committed to ensuring that every child’s confidence and character are nurtured at every opportunity. Only if the boys are healthy and happy will they flourish in and outside the classroom. RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Eton College, Music Exhibition; Tonbridge School, Academic. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: We are unashamedly ambitious for every boy and are proud of our strong academic record. Most importantly, we aim to develop the boys’ confidence in a caring supportive environment, where each boy is valued as an individual, makes friends for life and can flourish and realise their potential. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Outstanding academic results, with over 70 per cent leaving to go to Eton, Harrow, Radley and Winchester. Set in 130 acres of spectacular grounds, just 45 minutes from London. The school opened a £2.5m Exploration Centre in 2021, which provides one of the finest facilities for Science, Coding, Art, CDT and Ceramics in a prep school anywhere in the country. Exceptional pastoral care. 100 per cent full boarding with fortnightly exeats. Delicious food cooked onsite using fresh local ingredients.
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St. Francis’ College LETCHWORTH GARDEN CITY
Opening minds fulfilling hearts For Open Days... www.st-francis.herts.sch.uk For individual visits year round... admissions@st-francis.herts.sch.uk PREPARATORY - SENIOR - SIXTH FORM
ST GEORGE’S ASCOT
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Independent boarding and day school for girls aged 11-18
TERMLY OPEN MORNINGS VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR DETAILS Weekly transport service to and from Central London for London boarders and a new daily bus service from Richmond
www.stgeorges-ascot.org.uk | admissions@stgeorges-ascot.org.uk | 01344 629 900 220 | SCHOOLHOUSEMAGAZINE.CO.UK | Autumn/Winter 2021
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Shortlisted
Boarding school of the year
Felsted for me Leading all-round education with pupil wellbeing at its heart. Give your child the space to thrive with our variety of modern boarding & day options. Based on a safe rural campus just one hour from London.
Visit felsted.org to book your visit or explore our virtual tours and events Developing character, making a difference. Co-educational, ages 4-18, boarding & day. #felstedforme
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Co -Educational Day and Boarding School for Pupils aged 2 -18 E: admissions@smbushey.org T: 020 8416 4400 W: www.stmargarets-school.org.uk Merry Hill Road, Bushey, Herts, WD23 1DT
BOOK A TOUR TODAY
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ST GEORGE’S SCHOOL WINDSOR CASTLE
OL REIMA G I N E
We’re set to become an IB World School Join our open event on Friday, 1 October to find out how this will transform your child’s learning.
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stgwindsor.org/open-events
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Dream Big Work Hard Aim High Book a visit
www.tudorhallschool.com
Email admissions@tudorhallschool.com Telephone 01295 756259
@tudorhallschool
Where enjoyment creates achievement
A Boarding and Day School for girls aged 11 - 18 based in Banbury, Oxfordshire
Independent day & boarding school for girls and boys aged 3 – 18.
Open Days Virtual Open Day at stchris.co.uk
Junior School Tuesday 28 September Wednesday 20 October
Senior School & Sixth Form Enhanced private visits available throughout autumn +44 (0) 1462 650947 admissions@stchris.co.uk stchris.co.uk
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Wychwood School
ADDRESS: 74 Banbury Road, Oxford, Oxfordshire OX2 6JR WEBSITE: www.wychwoodschool.org FOUNDED: 1897 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 110 AGES: 11-18 FEES: Day, £5,750 per term; weekly boarders, £8,800 per term; full boarders, £9,995 per term HEAD TEACHER: Andrea Johnson RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Christian heritage, all faiths welcome ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Own school entrance assessment, interview and school reports CONTACT: Susan Boardman, Head of Admissions EMAIL: admissions@wychwoodschool.org SCHOOL VISITS: Open days as listed on school website and by appointment
BOYS WILL BE...outdoors
at Moulsford Prep day and boarding school of 370 boys aged 4 – 13 years
OPEN DAYS FRIDAY 24 SEPTEMBER, 10AM - 12PM AND 1PM - 3PM SATURDAY 25 SEPTEMBER, 9AM - 12PM
To book a place, please email admissions@moulsford.com call 01491 651438 or visit our website Moulsford Prep School, Moulsford-on-Thames, Oxfordshire OX10 9HR
WWW.MOULSFORD.COM
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T HE MA RIST SC H O O L I N TH E H EA RT OF S U N NIN G H I LL , A S CO T
THE CURRICULUM: Pupils can choose from over 28 subjects at GCSE, A-level and BTEC courses. Sixth form also undertake EPQ qualification.
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GAMES & THE ARTS: Wide ranging music and drama on offer and caters to each girl’s preferences and requests. Music is a key feature of the majority of school events and over half have extra music tuition. Sports clubs include traditional team sports; hockey, netball, rounders and more individual such as tennis, swimming and yoga. PASTORAL CARE: Great responsibility has always been placed on pupils and our pastoral ethos. Indeed, pastoral care is at the core of Wychwood school with girls pastorally caring for each other as well as staff committed to their well-being. Wychwood pastoral care is natural, there is a genuine familial feel that is unique and warm. With strong vertical and horizontal mixing within the school, the support system never leaves a Wychwood girl. UNIVERSITY PLACES: 86 per cent of students over the last five years went to their first-choice university. Awarded Princess Diana Award 2020. National Space Design Finalists, 2020. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: During her time here, we help each girl discover what it means to be happy, as this is the foundation upon which lifelong success is built. Girls finish their school days being able to deal effectively with the adult world into which they emerge, knowing that they will always be part of the Wychwood community. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: A current parent says: ‘Wychwood is an amazing school. It is caring, positive and very much about working with the individual. The staff work closely to bring out the best in every girl. If you’re after a school that genuinely cares for each child and looks after them as an individual, challenging them and finding their true potential – then you’ve found it.’
WWW.THEMARIST.COM 224 | SCHOOLHOUSEMAGAZINE.CO.UK | Autumn/Winter 2021
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We are Change Makers
Stowe, Swanbourne House and Winchester House Schools are educating a generation of Change Makers ready to transform the world. Yes, we teach pupils how to excel in exams, but we also teach them how to collaborate, how to solve problems and how to think critically. We equip them with the skills, resilience and ideas they need to adapt and thrive in a world that’s changing faster than ever before.
stowe.co.uk
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YORK HOUSE SCHOOL
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At York House, a leading prep school for girls & boys from 3 to 13 years
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SOUTHWEST SCHOOLS
All Hallows Prep School
ADDRESS: Cranmore Hall, East Cranmore, Shepton Mallet, Somerset BA4 4SF WEBSITE: www.allhallowsschool.co.uk FOUNDED: 1938 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 260 AGES: 3-13 FEES: (termly) day, £2,860 – £5,560; boarding, £7,345 – £8,420. Nursery, £52.50 per day. HEAD TEACHER: Dr Trevor Richards CPsychol RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: All faiths welcome. ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Non-selective, subject to taster days. CONTACT: Jackie Truelove; 01749 881600 EMAIL: admissions@allhalllowsschool.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Open mornings termly. Personal visits also welcome – please contact the admissions office.
Canford School
ADDRESS: Wimborne, Dorset BH21 3AD WEBSITE: www.canford.com FOUNDED: 1923 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 387 boys, 275 girls AGES: 13-18 FEES: (termly) boarding, £13,130; day, £9,995 HEAD TEACHER: Ben Vessey MA MBA RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: At 13+, pre-assessment in Year 6 or Year 7, leading to Common Entrance, scholarship or our own entry tests in Year 8. At Sixth Form, scholarship or our own entry tests in the autumn of Year 11 CONTACT: Susan Hogan, Director of Admissions; 01202 847207 EMAIL: admissions@ canford.com SCHOOL VISITS: Open days: 9 Oct 2021 and 7 May 2022. Personal visits also welcome – please contact the Admissions office to arrange
THE CURRICULUM: A creative approach is enabling All Hallows children to think critically to come up with innovative solutions to complex problems. Younger children enjoy an exciting, hands-on, thematic-based curriculum, including Forest School in our extensive onsite woodland. Older children also enjoy a broad curriculum working towards 13+ CE or academic scholarship.
THE CURRICULUM: The academic curriculum offers GCSEs, IGCSEs, A-levels and Pre-U qualifications. Canford has a fine reputation for academic rigour and high achievement in external exams, and there is an extensive academic enrichment programme across all year groups which develops minds way beyond the confines of any syllabus.
GAMES & THE ARTS: Outstanding opportunities for creative design and art, in the state-of-the-art Creative Centre, and also for music and drama. Our process-driven approach to sport is teaching our children to be intelligent games players and aims to instil a lifelong love of sport.
GAMES & THE ARTS: Over 30 different sports and activities for every level. Sports scholars receive additional specialist coaching, with regular England and GB representation. Art, music and drama thrive and are integral to school life, with co-curricular opportunities as well as academic choices. The school’s extensive Community Service programme promotes social responsibility, teamwork, resilience and leadership. Over 8,000 hours of Community Action were given by pupils to projects last year.
PASTORAL CARE: First and foremost, we set out to ensure that our pupils are happy, healthy and well supported to meet the numerous and varied challenges that their childhood will throw at them. Being both an educationalist and a psychologist, our Head is ideally placed to ensure the school provides an optimal environment for the children to thrive. Whilst we cannot predict the future, we support each child according to their individual needs. RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: In the last three years, 62% of Year 8 pupils gained a scholarship or award to their senior school. These included academic (14), sport (35), creative design and art (25), music (7), drama (7) and all round (16). HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: We value each and every child for who they are, as well as their contribution school life, celebrating individual milestones along their educational journey. Our aim is to provide a secure, happy and inclusive community where they will develop the inner confidence to be the best that they can be. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Set in an idyllic setting in rural Somerset, All Hallows is within easy reach of Bath, Frome and Bruton. It is a truly independent country prep school where a creative approach and academic endeavour happily coexist and where children are thriving.
PASTORAL CARE: Ofsted rated the school ‘outstanding’ in its last inspection. ISI found the quality of pastoral care to be ‘excellent’ – the highest category – and a major strength of the school. Heads of Wellbeing lead an extensive programme to promote positive mental and physical health. UNIVERSITY PLACES: Over 95 per cent of leavers move on to university. 80 per cent of all university offers in 2020/21 were for Russell Group/ Sunday Times Top 12 institutions. Over 100 places at Medical Schools in the past decade. Recent degree apprenticeships with PwC, Accenture and Goldman Sachs. An international SAT testing centre. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: We are ambitious for our pupils and strive to ensure they recognise the coherence across and connections between their learning in all contexts. A key to our success is creating an expectation of personal achievement and ensuring the support is there to fulfil our vision for all to ‘Explore, Express and Excel’. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Finalist in TES Awards for 4 consecutive years, Tatler Public School of the Year 2019, Boarding School of the Year 2018 (Independent School Parent), one of only seven independent schools to fully sponsor an Academy – The Bourne Academy. Global links with schools in Rajasthan and Princeton, USA, outreach in India, Cambodia and Ghana alongside 30+ community projects in the UK.
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Badminton School
ADDRESS: Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol BS9 3BA WEBSITE: www.badmintonschool.co.uk FOUNDED: 1858 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 550 AGES: 3–18 years FEES: (termly) day, £3, 465 – £5,810; boarding, £7,900 – £13,500. Nursery sessional fees, £29 per session HEAD TEACHER: Rebecca Tear, MA, BSc, PGCE, PGDip RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Entrance exams, online adaptive test and interview by a senior staff member. CONTACT: Katherine Stewart, Admissions Manager; 01179 055 271 EMAIL: admissions@badmintonschool.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Individual visits welcome. Sixth-form open evening: 24 Sept 2021. Whole school open morning: 2 Oct 2021. Contact Admissions for further information or book online.
Hazlegrove
ADDRESS: Hazlegrove, Sparkford, Yeovil, Somerset BA22 7JA WEBSITE: www.hazlegrove.co.uk FOUNDED: 1947 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 204 boys, 167 girls AGES: 2-13 FEES: Pre-prep, £3,076; prep day, £4,890–£6,237; prep boarding, £7,235–£9,232 HEAD TEACHER: Mark White MA (Hons) RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Informal interview and assessment CONTACT: Ali Rogers, admissions, 01963 442606 EMAIL: admissions@hazlegrove.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Visitors always welcome by appointment, please contact the school for further details.
THE CURRICULUM: The emphasis at Badminton is on a holistic education, not narrowly academic. Both the curriculum and the timetable are constructed to create a balance between academic achievement, personal development, life skills and other enterprising activity.
THE CURRICULUM: The breadth and balance in the curriculum give pupils an opportunity to get excited about the lessons they have each day. The development of a creative and innovative curriculum sits alongside outdoor learning and sustainability.
GAMES & THE ARTS: The Creative Arts Centre provides girls with the inspiration and facilities to excel in the various mediums of art. Music is a large part of School life with countless opportunities to perform and develop. Sports and wellbeing is an important part of the School day. The new Sports Centre, opened in 2018, provides top of the range facilities on site. With activities ranging from sporting performance pathways through to community and relaxation events, girls can really get involved.
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: The campus and community at Badminton gives off a homely, vibrant feel. Coupled with excellent pastoral care the school lends itself to strong mutually supportive relationships between girls and the girls and staff. We wish every girl to feel happy and confident about her school life. Working to ensure a well ordered and supportive environment, we ask the girls to take responsibility for themselves and others. This gives them opportunities to face challenge and build resilience.
PASTORAL CARE: There is a distinctive sense of community and wellbeing at Hazlegrove. The happiness of every child is a priority, especially for the 100 or so boarders. ‘The pastoral care of the pupils is exemplary,’ ISI. RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Over the last three years an impressive 100 scholarships and awards have been gained to 28 different schools, these included 22 academic, 34 sports, 16 music, 10 all-rounder, six Art/ DT and 12 drama.
RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: Awards and scholarships, which carry remission on fees, are available and awarded to girls with particular talents which could be in academia, sport, art, STEM, music or in a variety of areas. Scholarships are available for entry to Years 5, 6, 7, 9 and Lower Sixth.
HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: We delight in children being children and are committed to actively celebrating childhood, protecting those in our care whilst fully preparing them for when they leave the school at the age of 13.
HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: At Badminton, our focus continues to be on nurturing the girls’ natural curiosity and fuelling their passion for learning. We believe in practically engaging with the subjects and really getting under the skin of them. The enduring excellence that Badminton girls achieve stems from the positive atmosphere and holistic approach to education.
OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: The Good Schools’ Guide writes: ‘Try as we might, we could not find anything to fault about this super one-off school.’ Pupils lay down firm foundations in all areas of the curriculum, on which they can build in future years. Academic rigour sits alongside creative ambition, teamwork and a love of learning. Hazlegrove encourages individuality and values determination and perseverance, as well as qualities such as compassion and kindness. For the boarders there is a genuine sense of belonging to the Hazlegrove family.
OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: While Badminton retains a nationally outstanding academic record, the community gives girls a chance to develop an understanding of the viewpoints of others and to think about contributing to the world around them. Girls leave Badminton ready to face the wider world and, when they do, they take with them a strong network of lifelong friends developed through a wealth of shared experiences.
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WA N T TO E X P R E S S YO U R S E L F ?
YOU HAVE THE STAGE TO PERFORM We give you the strength to be an individual
OPEN MORNINGS: SAT 2ND OCT (SIXTH FORM) & SAT 9TH OCT (ALL AGES) WWW.DOWNSIDE.CO.UK
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FOR GIRLS
Exciting new Prep timetable and enrichment curriculum launching in September 2021 Innovative • Creative • Nurturing Happy • Safe to take risk • Affordable Please contact our Admissions Team to book your individual visit and to find out more about our innovative enrichment programme. For more information visit our website www.brutonschool.co.uk To speak to a member of the Admissions team call 01749 814400 or email admissions@brutonschool.co.uk
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Lessons for life BOARDING & DAY SCHOOL COEDUCATIONAL 1118
www.dauntseys.org DEVIZES, WILTSHIRE
Day, Flexi, Weekly & Full Boarding Book a visit to find out more
admissions@godolphin.org
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HANFORD A BOARDING AND DAY PREP SCHOOL JUST FOR GIRLS AGED 7-13
THIRD COMES FIRST AT HANFORD
Inspiring a lifelong love of learning begins in our IIIrd Form, years 3 and 4, and to find out why visit www.hanfordschool.co.uk or call Karen on 01258 860219
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SOUTHWEST SCHOOLS
We are creative Co-educational day and boarding for pupils aged 5 to 18 in the heart of Dorset Monday to Friday weekly boarding option with direct train to London Visit our website to book onto our Open Events throughout the year.
01963 211015 | www.leweston.co.uk | admissions@leweston.dorset.sch.uk
DISCOVER BRILLIANCE
MILLFIELD & MILLFIELD PREP’S NEXT OPEN EVENT SATURDAY 9 OCTOBER
millfieldschool.com/open-days
SOMERSET GIRLS AND BOYS, BOARDING AND DAY FOR AGES 2-18 #DISCOVER BRILLIANCE
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SOUTHWEST SCHOOLS
Salisbury Cathedral School
Wells Cathedral School
ADDRESS: 1 The Close, Salisbury, SP1 2EQ WEBSITE: www.salisburycathedralschool.com FOUNDED: 1091 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 225 AGES: 3-13 FEES: (termly) from £3,075 to £5,540. Boarding supplement, £2,600 HEAD TEACHER: Clive Marriott, MA, BEd (Hons) RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Non-selective CONTACT: Jojo Orange; 01722 555300 EMAIL: admissions@salisburycathedralschool.com SCHOOL VISITS: We host three open days each year and welcome visitors with a prior appointment
ADDRESS: The Liberty, Wells, Somerset BA5 2ST WEBSITE: www.wells.cathedral.school FOUNDED: 909 AD NUMBER OF PUPILS: Nursery 58, junior school 152, senior school 556 AGES: 2-18 FEES: (termly) junior school, from £2,702 day, £8,295 boarding; senior school from £6,279 day, £10,476 boarding HEAD TEACHER: Alastair Tighe RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Christian. All faiths welcome ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Non selective. Informal interview, Cognitive Ability Test, previous term’s reports and a report from Head of current school. Scholarship Day each January. Music auditions for specialist music scheme CONTACT: Jo Prestidge, Registrar; 01749 834441 EMAIL: admissions@wells.cathedral.school SCHOOL VISITS: Families are welcome all year, contact the admissions office for appointments. Open days are held in March, May and Oct.
THE CURRICULUM: Through our wide-ranging and creative curriculum, we aim to give children opportunity to discover themselves and develop a life-long love of learning.
THE CURRICULUM: We provide an innovative and bold curriculum with an Integrated Arts Programme, Modern Foreign Languages, STEM, a Specialist Music Scheme and a Specialist Maths Scheme. We offer over 25 subjects at GCSE and A level and the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ). Around one quarter of senior school pupils are specialist musicians.
GAMES & THE ARTS: Music, arts and sport are about enjoyment, participation and progress. About 90% of our pupils play an instrument and 45% play two. We regularly win art and DT scholarships and receive our fair share of the laurels in sports. PASTORAL CARE: High quality pastoral care is a priority at Salisbury Cathedral School and we take a multi-faceted approach. We proactively promote a continued sense of school community to bolster everyone’s mental health. Regular form times are an open environment for children to raise any practical or emotional issues they face. Year group and whole school assemblies address pastoral themes and often feature our school chaplain to lead thought and prayer. RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: On average, 80% of our pupils achieve scholarships to their chosen senior schools each year. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: Here at Salisbury Cathedral School, we are dedicated to the happiness and enrichment of every child in our care. We focus on building confidence, without arrogance, by celebrating each pupil’s individual talents and ensuring they know their own importance within our community. We hold your child in our hearts. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Housed in a Bishop’s Palace with a 900-year educational history. An incomparable 27-acre setting beneath the famous spire of Salisbury Cathedral. Exceptional music at every level of the school. Impressive academics taught by specialist staff. Extensive outdoor learning opportunities. A welcoming school community inspired by our Head Master’s caring ethos.
GAMES & THE ARTS: We believe sport is an integral part of school life and encourage pupils of all abilities to take part. We offer over 15 sport options and are proud to have the best cricket grounds in Somerset. Drama has a reputation for ambitious productions such as Les Misérables which was attended by Sir Cameron Mackintosh. Art flourishes with regular exhibitions in our dedicated performance centre, Cedars Hall. PASTORAL CARE: At Wells we aim to provide all pupils with a family environment within a kind and caring community where they can be happy, healthy and, most importantly, who they are. With the mixed day and boarding houses situated in the heart of the school, this warm atmosphere extends into the day-to-day life of every pupil making Wells not just a school but a home. UNIVERSITY PLACES: Over 60 per cent to Russell Group, 10 per cent to Oxbridge, 25 per cent to one of the world’s leading music conservatoires (we have a 100 per cent success rate for musicians applying to conservatoires). HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: Our motto esto quod es - ‘Be what you are’ – powerfully represents our school’s belief in the individuality of each pupil, who grow and become the very best version of themselves. We encourage every Wellensian to be curious and open-minded, to develop their character in a positive way, and to nurture existing passions and discover new ones. We all live by our core values of creativity, aspiration, responsibility and endeavour. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Wells has been described by the Good Schools Guide and the Daily Telegraph as being the loveliest place of learning in the UK. The school’s buildings include medieval halls, and a state-of-the-art concert hall. Wells is one of just four specialist music schools in England, and is utterly unique as the only specialist music school in the world in the context of an all-round school.
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SOUTHWEST SCHOOLS
Learn Create Explore • Strong and caring school community • Outstanding academic results • Vibrant Music, Drama and Creative Arts • Sports for all: range of activities at all levels and links to Professional clubs • Day school with boarding at its heart. Flexi boarding and extended days available for busy families
A warm welcome awaits you at our Open Events Prep School Open Morning
Sixth Form Open Evening
Senior School Open Morning
21 September
23 September
25 September
10.00am - 12.00pm
6.30pm - 9.00pm
9.00am - 12.00pm
Book your place at www.kingswood.bath.sch.uk An Independent Co-educational Boarding & Day School for pupils aged 9 months - 18 years
www.monktoncombeschool.com @MonktonBath
“You truly get the feeling that your child, not just the results they get, is the most important thing to everyone at the school” Current parent
Thinks Differently Where learning comes to life... Academic excellence achieved through a journey of self-discovery An independent boarding and day school for boys and girls aged 2-18 years near Bath
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SOUTHWEST SCHOOLS
St Mary’s Calne
START YOUR ADVENTURE HERE...
SIXTH FORM OPEN EVENING FRIDAY 1ST OCTOBER SENIOR, JUNIOR & PRE-PREP OPEN MORNING SATURDAY 2ND OCTOBER For Ages 3-18. Please register at kesbath.com or call 01225 820 399
ADDRESS: Curzon Street, Calne, Wiltshire SN11 0DF WEBSITE: www.stmaryscalne.org FOUNDED: 1873 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 360 AGES: 11-18 FEES: (termly) boarding £13,760; day £10,265 HEAD TEACHER: Felicia Kirk BA (University of Maryland), MA (Brown University), PhD (Brown University) RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Common Entrance, own entrance papers and interviews CONTACT: Stephanie Bryan, 01249 857200 EMAIL: admissions@stmaryscalne.org SCHOOL VISITS: Individual visits throughout the term. Open days: 9 Oct and 6 Nov 2021. 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 majority of the girls gain places at their first choice university (95 per cent in 2020). 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 extra-curricular clubs. We are ranked 2nd independent secondary school in the South West (The Sunday Times Schools’ Guide, Parent Power 2020).
A Church of England, state boarding and day school for ages 11-18 Learn more: www.sexeys.org
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School
SOUTHWEST SCHOOLS
Open Day Saturday 2nd October 10.00am
“An exceptional school” - Good Schools Guide 2020
To book your place: https://wells.cathedral.school/openday admissions@wells.cathedral.school
Talbot Heath School has been named as one of the most innovative and influential independent schools in the country. (i25 Excellence in Education Awards 2019)
TENNIS & SWIMMING ACADEMIES WITH BOARDING
THINK BIG Talbot Heath
Boarding and day school for girls and boys aged 2-13 years
Independent School for Girls aged 3-18
Rushmore Park, Tollard Royal, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP5 5QD 01725 530 124 • admissions@sandroyd.com • www.sandroyd.com
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Ground breaking curriculum for the future taught from age 3, key content areas are DESIGN THINKING Modelling, Engineering, Architecture, Urban Design, Sustainability, Product Design ETHICS Links to AI, Philosophy, Sustainability, Technological Advances DIGITAL DESIGN Coding, Robotics, Animation, Electronics, Film-making MATERIAL SCIENCE Key skills within all subjects will include critiquing work, problem solving and project management.
SCHOLARSHIPS, BURSARIES, CLERGY & MILITARY DISCOUNTS.
Bournemouth | Dorset | Tel: 01202 761881 | talbotheath.org Connect with us @TalbotHeathSch | Day and boarding | Private Mini Buses to London
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Two schools, one town Separate yet together
Boys aged 13-18 Full boarding and day
Girls aged 11-18 Full boarding and day
01935 810403 admissions@sherborne.org sherborne.org
01935 818224 registrar@sherborne.com sherborne.com
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CENTRAL, NORTHERN & WALES SCHOOLS
Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate
ADDRESS: Thorpe Underwood Hall, Thorpe Underwood Estate, York, North Yorkshire YO26 9SS WEBSITE: www.qe.org FOUNDED: 1912 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 1400 AGES: Three months – 19 years FEES: (termly) Day: £2,132 – £6,169; boarding: £11,214 – £14,012 HEAD TEACHER: Dan Machin RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Non-denominational ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Interview, test, previous school report CONTACT: Sue McKee, Admissions Manager; 01423 333330 EMAIL: admissions@qe.org SCHOOL VISITS: Please contact us to arrange a convenient time for an individual tour, or join us for our next open day on 2 Oct 2021.
Boarding School of the Year
THE CURRICULUM: An excellent rated (ISI 2019) group of independent day and boarding schools, for boys and girls aged between three months and 19 years. Pupils are supported through four schools – Chapter House (three months to year 5), King’s Magna (year 6 to 9), The College and Faculty (both year 10 to 13) – to become resilient, confident and independent young adults who are prepared for their future. We offer a rich variety of GCSEs, A-levels and BTECs and consistently rank in the top ten schools in the UK for exam performance, with leavers going to the most prestigious UK and international universities. The College was ranked number one performing independent secondary school in the north of England (Sunday Times Schools Guide 2020). GAMES & THE ARTS: All QE students follow a sports programme designed to stimulate the values of fair play, honesty, determination and application, through a wide variety of pursuits. Our Performance Sports Programme is available for students from Year 7. We have an outstanding and growing creative and performing arts provision, with a full-scale professional theatre on site. Small class sizes and one-to-one support outside normal lessons enable us to nurture young talent and achieve excellent results.
Tes Independent Schools Awards 2021
PASTORAL CARE: Care is the most important element within the QE community; every member of the collegiate, staff and student, is responsible for the pastoral care and happiness of the site. Students across all years have access to our dedicated programme of activities and support – THRIVE@QE – aimed at supporting their mental health and well-being. RECENT SCHOLARSHIPS: We offer academic, sport, music and drama scholarships in Years 7 to 13. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: To be the best I can with the gifts I have.
Girls 3-18 | Boys 3-13 Oswestry | Shropshire
Open Day th September 18
OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: QE is set in more than 220 acres of North Yorkshire countryside, between Harrogate and York. It can be reached from London in under two hours by train. A renowned, extensive co-curricular programme of trips and enrichment activities for all students. A dedicated Sports Village, with professional coaching and over 30 acres of professionally maintained sports pitches and elite level facilities. State-of-the-art boarding facilities, which support students’ development and provide the safe and productive environment for them to thrive.
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Adcote School for Girls
Discover the
ISA Senior School of the Year Confidence | Leadership | Engagement | Achievement | Resilience Our CLEAR Lear ning prog ramme prepares your daughter for a bright future Enquire now for September 2022 entry. Private tours available upon request.
admissions@adcoteschool.co.uk | +44 (0) 1939 260202 | www.adcoteschool.co.uk | @adcoteschool
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CENTRAL, NORTHERN & WALES SCHOOLS
Bromsgrove School
ADDRESS: Worcester Road, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire B61 7DU WEBSITE: www.bromsgrove-school.co.uk FOUNDED: 1553 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 420 (7–13), 990 (13–18), 585 Boarders AGES: 2-18 FEES: (termly) prep day, £4,175 – £5,415; weekly board, £6345 – £7,680; full board, £8,700 – £10,730. Senior day, £5,980; weekly board, £8,870; full board, £13,385. HEAD TEACHER: Peter Clague, BA, MBA RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Anglican ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Entrance examination and interview. CONTACT: Admissions; 01527 579679 EMAIL: admissions@bromsgrove-school.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Individual visits welcomed – contact Amanda James, ajames@bromsgrove-school.co.uk 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: There is genuinely a big variety of sport on offer and Bromsgrove is consistently ranked in the top six independent schools for sport in School Sports Magazine. The school has recently had teams in national finals for hockey, netball, cricket and rugby. 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. The school boasts impressive performance facilities with a dedicated theatre and a separate concert hall, both of which seat an audience of 300. Major productions take place every year. PASTORAL CARE: Each boarding house has resident house parents 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 state-of-the-art facility, and weekly as well as full boarding is offered. UNIVERSITY PLACES: Sixth Form leavers increasingly look at international universities for higher education, with a number of recent alumni successfully gaining sports scholarships in North America. One recent leaver won an art scholarship to the prestigious California Institute of the Arts. 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. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: The passion, vision and flair that have transformed Bromsgrove intellectually, culturally and on the games fields is also manifest in the facilities available to pupils: the School is commited to providing pupils with the very best environment in which to live and learn.
Cheltenham Ladies’ College
ADDRESS: Bayshill Road, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL50 3EP WEBSITE: www.cheltladiescollege.org FOUNDED: 1853 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 840 girls AGES: 11-18 FEES: (termly) Boarding, £13,260; day, £8,900; new sixth-form entrants boarding, £14,930; new sixth-form entrants day, £10,130 HEAD TEACHER: Eve Jardine-Young MA RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Christian – 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: Charlotte Coull BA, Admissions Director; 01242 707070 EMAIL: admissions@cheltladiescollege.org SCHOOL VISITS: See the website for details
THE CURRICULUM: Students are taught in small classes by teachers with a deep enthusiasm for their subjects. We are committed to providing high-quality teaching, developing intellectually curious, self-motivated, enthusiastic young women with an enduring love of learning. GAMES & THE ARTS: We understand that every student is an individual, appreciating the talent and potential of every pupil. CLC offers over 140 co-curricular opportunities, including over 30 different sports and multiple drama performances and music concerts throughout the year. PASTORAL CARE: Pastoral care isn’t something that happens when things go wrong; it’s a constant support system for each girl’s time in College. Our academic staff, tutors, house system, chaplain and medical centre create a pastoral network to support every girl, from the reserved to the extrovert. Pupils also undertake a wide range of activities as part of a whole-school Wellbeing Programme. UNIVERSITY PLACES: Our dedicated Professional Guidance Centre offers a wealth of insight and opportunities to help encourage, guide, support and embolden students as they find their path. The Centre runs comprehensive programmes for applications to higher education, both in the UK and abroad, including specialist provision for US and Oxbridge applications. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: A 21st century education needs to inspire and prepare young people to sustain a lifetime of independently sought learning, and give them the flexibility and resourcefulness to flourish in our rapidly changing world. Academic excellence is the basis of College life, but girls also embrace the co-curricular programme, develop a global outlook, and enrich the communities to which they belong. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: College was founded with the purpose of providing girls with a thorough academic education.We remain committed to that goal, and pupils from across 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.CLC was awarded the Sunday Times Parent Power – South West Independent School of the Decade.
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CENTRAL, NORTHERN & WALES SCHOOLS
“Like a jigsaw, everyone seems to fit in“ SIXTH FORM PUPIL
INDEPENDENT DAY & BOARDING EDUCATION FOR BOYS & GIRLS AGED 7-18 YEARS
www.christcollegebrecon.com 01874 615440 | admissions@christcollegebrecon.com
“The opportunities are limitless”
WINNER OF
EAST ANGLIA INDEPENDENT SECONDARY SCHOOL OF THE YEAR
Made in
PARENTAL SURVEY 2019
Cambridge
Cambridge’s only boarding and day school for girls and boys aged 11 - 18 OPEN MORNINGS February April October Small group and individual visits available year round
To attend an open morning or arrange a visit contact T I 01223 508904 E I admissions@theleys.net W I www.theleys.net THE LEYS_MADE IN CAMBRIDGE_HALF PAGE_MASTER.indd 1
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CENTRAL, NORTHERN & WALES SCHOOLS
Shrewsbury School
Visit Shrewsbury The Independent School of the Year
Boarding and Day School for Girls and Boys aged 13-18
admissions@shrewsbury.org.uk 01743 280 552 | shrewsbury.org.uk
Start your journey now at:
shrewsbury.org.uk/open-days SHORTLISTED Boarding School of the Year
WINNER Independent School of the Year WINNER Community Outreach Award
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Explore beyond the classroom with
Myddelton College
L E AD I N G I N D E P E N D E N T DAY & B OAR D I N G S C H O O L At Myddelton College we nurture a love for the outdoors and develop leaders for the 21st Century. Our leading Outdoor Adventure Education programme combines experiences beyond the classroom with an emphasis on mental wellbeing. Myddelton’s Elite Sports Academy provides specialist training alongside our diverse academic curriculum. This promotes a whole-child education which prepares students for university and beyond. Find out more about how Myddelton College can prepare your child for a bright future.
+44 (0) 1745 472204 | admissions@myddeltoncollege.com | myddeltoncollege.com | @myddeltoncollege
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EASTERN SCHOOLS
Open Days Book a Tour Visit our family of independent co-educational schools from nursery to sixth form in Cambridge and Saffron Walden. We have Open Day Tours in September and October where staff will be on hand to show you what makes our schools so special.
To find out more and to book your place please visit stephenperse.com
Richard Girvan, Principal
A leading co-educational preparatory school for children aged 3 - 13 years
AN INDEPENDENT BOARDING AND DAY SCHOOL FOR BOYS AND GIRLS, AGED 4-13
g n i d n a t s t u O Location
Outstanding Education T: 01449 740252 E: admissions@obh.co.uk W: www.obh.co.uk
Awarded EXCELLENT by ISI May 2018
Book your personalised visit, virtual or onsite with Viv Farnell vf@beestonhall.co.uk beestonhall.co.uk | 01263 837324 |
80-acre idyl in the heart of the Suffolk countryside Bury St Edmunds
Colchester
Ipswich
Newmarket
Sudbury
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KSE
Energy | Courage | Integrity
“
King’s Ely turns out well rounded, likeable individuals who attain academically but who also realise there is more to life than just results. Read full review at www.kingsely.org
Book your place at our Open Events today! Independent School Girls and Boys, ages 2-18 Day and Boarding
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EASTERN SCHOOLS
Orwell Park School
Woodbridge School
ADDRESS: Nacton, Ipswich, Suffolk IP10 0ER WEBSITE: www.orwellpark.co.uk FOUNDED: 1868 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 280 AGES: 2-13 FEES: (termly) pre-prep day, £2,795 – £3,97;. prep boarding, £7,715 – £9,200; prep day, £5,792 – £6,386 HEAD TEACHER: Adrian Brown MA, PGCE RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Interview and assessment CONTACT: Bernadette Ross-Smith, Registrar EMAIL: admissions@orwellpark.co.uk SCHOOL VISITS: Please contact the school
ADDRESS: Burkitt Road, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP12 9JH WEBSITE: www.woodbridgeschool.org.uk FOUNDED: 1577 NUMBER OF PUPILS: 709 AGES: 4-18 FEES: (termly) from £3,440 to £10,906 HEAD TEACHER: Shona Norman RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: Church of England, but welcoming all faiths, cultures and backgrounds ENTRANCE PROCEDURE: Pupils are welcomed to all years and at any point during the year, dependent on spaces CONTACT: Abi Southworth, Admissions Registrar; 01394 615041 EMAIL: admissons@woodbridgeschool.org.uk SCHOOL VISITS: All prospective parents are warmly welcomed to visit by appointment for a private tour or an ‘Open Event’, 25 Sept 2021.
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
THE CURRICULUM: We provide a rich, broad curriculum, alongside an exemplary co-curricular programme; designed for children to be able to explore their own skills and passions, and to develop young people holistically into adults, ready and prepared for the future.
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.
GAMES & THE ARTS: Our impressive facilities, extensive grounds and wide range of activities include the following. A new state-of-the-art astro pitch, launched in October 2020. A specialist art, design and technology studio. The unique ‘Seckford Scheme,’ an activities-based, co-curricular provision on Friday afternoons, supporting the philanthropy of our founder, Thomas Seckford. From CCF and photography, to sports leadership and community outreach. Dedicated music teaching space. Our own 350-seater professional theatre, one of the finest facilities in East Anglia.
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 this year. Academic, all-rounder, sport, art, DT and drama. Local and national exit schools – Harrow, Uppingham, Stowe, Oundle, King’s Canterbury, King’s Ely, Dauntsey’s, Shrewsbury, Sedbergh, Tudor Hall, Framlingham College, Royal Hospital School, Ipswich, Woodbridge. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: Inspire our children and make learning 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.
PASTORAL CARE: We ensure our pupils are provided with the structure to be confident and self-motivated, equipped with emotional intelligence and a sense of moral and communal responsibility. Pastoral care is anchored by a well-established tutorial and House system. All our pastoral staff are qualified Mental Health First Aiders. Mental health is embedded into our PSHCE curriculum and Mindfulness is encouraged across all stages of the school. UNIVERSITY PLACES: Oxford, Cambridge and Russell Group universities. HEAD TEACHER’S PHILOSOPHY: Our dedicated staff provide pupils with a true ‘foundation for life’: investing time to get to know each and every one, instilling confidence, and embedding transformative life skills. An equal value is placed on time inside and outside the classroom. Children are encouraged to try new activities, taking pride in their successes, and those of others. OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS: Exceptional academic success (exams results and first-choice university selection). High-quality, dedicated teaching. Picturesque, safe, rural – yet accessible – location; close to road, rail and airport infrastructure. Prepared and responsive to the Covid-19 pandemic and its ever-changing requirements, with exceptional remote learning. Part of the Seckford Foundation, which aims to serve the interests of the whole Woodbridge community, across all backgrounds and ages.
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IRELAND & SCOTLAND SCHOOLS
Discover the benefits of a Fettes education Full Boarding Ethos 100 acre campus in Edinburgh Co-educational 13-18 Excellent IB, A Level & GCSE results ‘Sector leading’ pastoral care Fettes Virtual Open Day, Saturday 18th September www.fettes.com Autumn/Winter 2021 | SCHOOLHOUSEMAGAZINE.CO.UK | 247
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DIRECTORY
Horris Hill, Hampshire
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151
Eaton House Belgravia Nursery 3-5 Eaton Gate, London SW1W 9BA T: 020 3917 5050 eatonhouseschools.com Eaton House The Manor Nursery 58 Clapham Common Northside, London SW4 9RU T: 020 3917 5050 eatonhouseschools.com
149 Eaton Square Nursery, Belgravia 28 & 30 Eccleston Street, London SW1W 9PY T: 020 7823 6217 eatonsquareschool.com Eaton Square Nursery, Pimlico 32a Lupus Street, London SW1V 3DZ T: 020 7976 6511 eatonsquareschool.com 155 Hurlingham Nursery The Old Methodist Hall, Gwendolen Avenue, London SW15 6EH T: 020 8874 7186 hurlinghamschool.co.uk 86 Lycée International de 186 Londres Winston Churchill 1 Kings Drive, Wembley HA9 9HP T: 020 3824 4900 lyceeinternational.london 156 North Bridge House Nursery 33 Fitzjohn’s Ave, London NW3 5JY T: 020 7428 1520 northbridgehouse.com 156 North Bridge House Nursery & Pre-Prep West Hampsted 85-87 Fordwych Road, London NW2 3TL T: 020 7428 1520 northbridgehouse.com 188 St Benedict’s Nursery 5 Montpelier Avenue, London W5 2XP T: 020 8862 2253 stbenedicts.org.uk
PREPARATORY 144 Alleyn’s Junior School Townley Road, London SE22 8SU T: 020 8557 1519 alleyns.org.uk 145 Bassett House School 60 Bassett Road, London W10 6JP T: 020 8969 0313 bassetths.org.uk 171
Blackheath High School Vanbrugh Park, London SE3 7AG T: 020 8852 1537 blackheathhighschool .gdst.net
144 Blackheath Preparatory School 4 St Germans Place, London SE3 ONJ T: 020 8858 0692 blackheathprep school.com 146 Broomfield School 68–74 Nightingale Lane, London SW12 8NR T: 020 8368 4710 northwoodschools.com 142 Broomwood Hall Lower School 192 Ramsden Road, SW12, 50 Nightingale Lane, SW12 & 3 Garrad’s Road, SW16. T: 020 8682 8820 northwoodschools.com 142 Broomwood Hall Upper School 68–74 Nightingale Lane, London SW12 8NR T: 020 8682 8810 northwoodschools.com 144 Cameron Vale 4 The Vale, London SW3 6AH T: 020 7352 4040 cameronvale school.com 146 Channing Junior School The Bank, Highgate, London N6 5HF T: 020 8340 2328 channing.co.uk 145 Chepstow House 108a Lancaster Road, London W11 1QS T: 020 7243 0243 chepstowhouse school.co.uk
147 Chiswick & Bedford Priory House, Priory Ave, Chiswick, London W4 1TX T: 020 8994 1804 cbppschool.co.uk 169 Croydon High School GDST Old Farleigh Road, Selsdon, South Croydon CR2 8YB T: 020 8260 7543 croydonhigh.gdst.net 149 Devonshire House Prep School 2 Arkwright Rd, London NW3 6AE T: 020 7435 1916 devonshirehouse school.co.uk 147 Dolphin School (inc Noah’s Ark Nursery Schools) 106 Northcote Road, London SW11 6QW T: 020 7924 3472 dolphinschool.org.uk 150 Dulwich College Junior School Dulwich Common, London SE21 7LD T: 020 8299 8432 dulwich.org.uk/ junior-school 150 Durston House 12-14 Castlebar Rd, London W5 2DR T: 020 8991 6530 durstonhouse.org 153 Eaton House Belgravia Pre-Prep 3–5 Eaton Gate, London SW1W 9BA T: 020 3917 5050 eatonhouseschools.com 153 Eaton House Belgravia Prep 3–5 Eaton Gate, London SW1W 9BA T: 020 3917 5050 eatonhouseschools.com 151
Eaton House The Manor Pre-Prep School 58 Clapham Common Northside, London SW4 9RU T: 020 3917 5050 eatonhouseschools.com
152 Eaton House The Manor Prep School 58 Clapham Common Northside, London SW4 9RU T: 020 3917 5050 eatonhouseschools.com
152 Eaton House The Manor Girls’ School 58 Clapham Common Northside, London SW4 9RU T: 020 3917 5050 eatonhouseschools.com 42 Eaton Square School 149 79 Eccleston Square, London SW1V 1PP T: 020 7931 9469 eatonsquareschool.com 100 Ecole Jeannine Manuel 43-45 Bedford Square London WC1B 3DN T: 020 3829 5970 ecolejeanninemanuel .org.uk 160 L’Ecole de Battersea Trott Street, London SW11 3DS T: 020 7371 8350 lecoledespetits.co.uk 160 L’Ecole des Petits 2 Hazlebury Road, London SW6 2NB T: 020 7371 8350 lecoledespetits.co.uk 61
EIFA International School London 36 Portland Place, London, W1B 1LS T: 020 7637 5351 eifaschool.com
175 Eltham College Junior School Mottingham Ln, Mottingham London SE9 4RW T: 020 8857 3457 elthamcollege.london 170 Francis Holland School (Sloane Square) 39 Graham Terrace, London SW1W 8JF T: 020 7730 2971 fhs-sw1.org.uk 70
Fulham Pre-Prep School 47A Fulham High Street, London SW6 3JJ T: 020 7371 9911 fulham.school/pre-prep
70
Fulham Prep School 200 Greyhound Road, London W14 9SD T: 020 7386 2444 fulham.school/prep
18
Godolphin & Latymer School Iffley Rd, London W6 0PG T: 020 8741 1936 godolphinandlatymer.com
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162 The Hampshire School 15 Manresa Rd, London SW3 6NB T: 020 7352 7077 thehampshireschool chelsea.co.uk
164 Lyndhurst House Prep School 24 Lyndhurst Gardens, London NW3 5NW T: 020 74354936 lyndhursthouse.co.uk
148 Hawkesdown House 154 School 27 Edge Street, London W8 7PN T: 020 7727 9090 hawkesdown.co.uk
161 The Mall School 185 Hampton Road Twickenham, TW2 5NQ T: 020 8977 2523 themallschool.org.uk
154 Heathside School 16 New End, London NW3 1JA T: 020 3058 4011 heathsideprep.co.uk 161 Hornsby House Hearnville Road, Balham, London SW12 8RS T: 020 8673 7573 hornsbyhouse.org.uk 155 Hurlingham School 122 Putney Bridge Road, London SW15 2NQ T: 020 8874 7186 hurlinghamschool.co.uk 156 Ibstock Place Junior Clarence Lane, London SW15 5PY T: 020 8392 5803 ibstockplace school.co.uk 180 James Allen’s Prep School 144 East Dulwich Grove, London SE22 8TE T: 020 8693 0374 jags.org.uk 158 Kew College 24–26 Cumberland Road, Kew, Surrey TW9 3HQ T: 020 8940 2039 kewcollege.com 2/3 Kew Green 159 Preparatory School Layton House, Ferry Lane, Kew Green, Richmond TW9 3AF T: 020 8948 5999 kgps.co.uk 158 Knightsbridge School 67 Pont Street, London SW1X 0BD T: 020 7590 9000 knightsbridgeschool.com 86 Lycée International de 186 Londres Winston Churchill 1 Kings Drive, Wembley HA9 9HP T: 020 3824 4900 lyceeinternational.london
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The Moat School Bishop’s Avenue, Fulham, London SW6 6EG T: 020 7610 9018 moatschool.org.uk
163 Milbourne Lodge School 43 Arbrook Lane, Esher, Surrey KT10 9EG T: 01372 462737 milbournelodge.co.uk 164 Newton Prep 149 Battersea Park Road, London, SW8 4BX T: 020 7720 4091 newtonprepschool.co.uk 156 North Bridge House Pre-Prep 8 Netherhall Gardens, Hampstead, London NW3 5RR T: 020 7428 1520 northbridgehouse.com 156 North Bridge House Prep 1 Gloucester Ave, London NW1 7AB T: 020 7428 1520 northbridgehouse.com 143 Northcote Lodge 26 Bolingbroke Grove, London SW11 6EL T: 020 8682 8830 northwoodschools.com 162 Notting Hill Preparatory School 95 Lancaster Road, London W11 1QQ T: 020 7221 0727 nottinghillprep.com 148 Old Vicarage School 48 Richmond Hill, Richmond TW10 6QX T: 020 8940 0922 oldvicarageschool.com 157 Orchard House School 16 Newton Grove, London W4 1LB T: 020 8987 9886 orchardhs.org.uk
148 Orley Farm School South Hill Avenue, Harrow on the Hill HA1 3NU T: 020 8869 7634 orleyfarm.harrow.sch.uk 168 Parsons Green Prep School 1 Fulham Park Road, London SW6 4LJ T: 020 7371 9009 parsonsgreenprep.co.uk
167 St James Prep School Earsby Street, London W14 8SH T: 020 7348 1793 stjamesschools.co.uk
157 Prospect House School 75 Putney Hill, London SW15 3NT T: 020 8246 4897 prospecths.org.uk
165 St Philip’s School 6 Wetherby Place, London SW7 4NE T: 020 7373 3944 stphilipschool.co.uk
165 Prince’s Gardens Preparatory School 10-13 Prince’s Gardens, London SW7 1ND T: 020 7591 4620 princesgardensprep.co.uk
80 Sydenham High Prep School GDST 15 Westwood Hill, London SE26 6BL T: 020 8557 7004 sydenhamhighschool .gdst.net
176 Queen’s Gate Junior School 131–133 Queen’s Gate, London SW7 5LE T: 020 7589 3587 queensgate.org.uk 2/3 Ravenscourt Park 159 Preparatory School 16 Ravenscourt Ave, London W6 0SL T: 020 8846 9153 rpps.co.uk 18
Redcliffe School Prep 47 Redcliffe Gardens, London SW10 9JH T: 020 7352 9247 redcliffeschool.com
148 Sarum Hall Eton Ave, Belsize Park, London NW3 3EL T: 020 7794 2261 sarumhallschool.co.uk 166 St Anthony’s School for Boys 90 Fitzjohn’s Avenue, London NW3 6NP T: 020 7435 3597 stanthonysprep.org.uk 166 St Anthony’s School for Girls Ivy House, North End Road, London NW11 7SX T: 020 3869 3070 stanthonysgirls.co.uk 188 St Benedict’s Junior School 5 Montpelier Avenue, London W5 2XP T: 020 8862 2253 stbenedicts.org.uk
Due to the Covid pandemic we unfortunately cannot publish the schools’ open days in this issue. Please go to the individual schools’ websites or contact the schools directly for further information.
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168 St Dunstan’s College Junior School Stanstead Road, London SE6 4TY T: 020 8516 7200 stdunstans.org.uk
187 University College Junior School 11 Holly Hill, London NW3 6QN T: 020 7435 3068 ucs.org.uk 163 Wetherby Prep Bryanston Square, London W1H 2EA T: 020 7535 3520 wetherbyprep.co.uk 167 The White House Preparatory School & Woodentops Kindergarten 24 Thornton Road, London SW12 0LF T: 020 8674 9514 whitehouseschool.com SENIOR 113
ACS International Hillingdon 108 Vine Lane, Hillingdon, Middlesex UB10 0BE T: 01895 259771 acs-schools.com/acshillingdon
169 Alleyn’s School Townley Road London SE22 8SU T: 020 8557 1500 alleyns.org.uk 194 Babington House School Grange Drive, Chislehurst, Kent BR7 5ES T: 020 8467 5537 babingtonhouse.com
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London 211
Bancroft’s School High Road, Woodford Green, Essex IG8 0RF T: 020 8505 4821 bancrofts.org
172 Forest School College Place, London E17 3PY T: 020 8520 1744 forest.org.uk
182 The Latymer School Haselbury Rd, Edmonton London N9 9TN T: 020 8807 4037 laymer.co.uk
177 Old Palace of John Whitgift School Old Palace Road, Croydon CR0 1AX T: 020 8688 2027 oldpalace.croydon.sch.uk
171
Blackheath High School Vanbrugh Park, London SE3 7AG T: 020 8852 1537 blackheathhighschool. gdst.net
170 Francis Holland School (Regent’s Park, NW1) Ivor Place, London NW1 6XR T: 020 7723 0176 fhs-nw1.org.uk
86 Lycée International de 186 LondresWinston Churchill 1 Kings Drive, Wembley HA9 9HP T: 020 3824 4900 lyceeinternational.london
182 Portland Place School 56-58 Portland Place, London W1B 1NJ T: 020 7307 8700 portland-place.co.uk
170 Francis Holland School (Sloane Square, SW1) 39 Graham Terrace, London SW1W 8JF T: 020 7730 2971 fhs-sw1.org.uk
2/3 Maida Vale School 186 18 Saltram Crescent, London W9 3HR T: 020 4511 6000 maidavaleschool.com
174 Channing School The Bank, Highgate, London N6 5HF T: 020 8340 2328 channing.co.uk 169 City of London School Queen Victoria Street, London EC4V 3AL T: 020 3680 6300 cityoflondonschool.org.uk 169 Croydon High School GDST Old Farleigh Road, Selsdon, South Croydon CR2 8YB T: 020 8260 7543 croydonhigh.gdst.net
70
16
Fulham Senior School 1-3 Chesilton Road, London, SW6 5AA T: 020 7386 2444 fulham.school/senior Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys’ School Butterfly Lane, Elstree WD6 3AF T: 020 8266 1700 habsboys.org.uk
174 DLD College 199 Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 7FX T: 020 7935 8411 dldcollege.co.uk
178 Hampton Court House Hampton Court Road, East Molesey, KT8 9BS T: 020 8614 0857 hamptoncourthouse.co.uk
170 Dulwich College Dulwich Common, London SE21 7LD T: 020 8299 9263 dulwich.org.uk
180 Ibstock Place School Senior Clarence Lane, London SW15 5PY T: 020 8392 5803 ibstockplaceschool.co.uk
100 École Jeannine Manuel 52–53 Russell Square London WC1B 4HP T: 020 3687 2330 ecolejeanninemanuel. org.uk 42 Eaton Square Mayfair 173 106 Piccadilly, London W1J 7NL T: 020 7491 7393 eatonsquareschool.com 61
EIFA International School London 36 Portland Place, London, W1B 1LS T: 020 7637 5351 eifaschool.com
175 Eltham College Grove Park Rd, Mottingham, London SE9 4QF T: 020 8857 1455 elthamcollege.london
180 James Allen’s Girls’ School 144 East Dulwich Grove, London SE22 8TE T: 020 8693 1181 jags.org.uk 179 Kensington Park 59 Queen’s Gate, South Kensington London SW7 5JP T: 020 8161 0301 kps.com 2/3 Kew House School 178 6 Capital Interchange Way, London TW8 0EX T: 020 8742 2038 kewhouseschool.com 158 Knightsbridge Senior School 67 Pont Street, London SW1X 0BD T: 020 7590 9000 knightsbridgeschool.com
183 Merchant Taylors’ School Sandy Lodge, Northwood HA6 2HT T: 01923 845514 mtsn.org.uk 64
The Moat School Bishop’s Avenue, Fulham, London SW6 6EG T: 020 7610 9018 moatschool.org.uk
6/7 MPW London 90–92 Queen’s Gate, London SW7 5AB T: 020 7835 1355 mpw.ac.uk 185 North Bridge House Senior Canonbury 6-9 Canonbury Place, London N1 2NQ T: 020 7428 1520 northbridgehouse.com 185 North Bridge House Senior Hampstead 65 Rosslyn Hill, London NW3 5UD T: 020 7428 1520 northbridgehouse.com 184 Northwood College Maxwell Road, Northwood, London HA6 2YE T: 01923 825446 northwoodcollege. gdst.net 143 Northwood Senior School 177 3 Garrad’s Road, London SW16 1JZ T: 020 8161 0301 northwoodschools.com North London Collegiate School Canons, Canons Drive, Edgware HA8 7RJ T: 020 8952 0912 nlcs.org.uk
172 Putney High School GDST 35 Putney Hill, London SW15 6BH T: 020 8788 4886 putneyhigh.gdst.net 176 Queen’s Gate 131-133 Queen’s Gate, London SW7 5LE T: 020 7589 3587 queensgate.org.uk 176 Queenswood Shepherd’s Way, Brookmans Park, Hatfield AL9 6NS T: 01707 602500 queenswood.org 185 Radnor House Pope’s Villa, Cross Deep, Twickenham, London TW1 4QG T: 020 8891 6264 radnor-twickenham.org 94
Royal Russell School Coombe Ln, Croydon London CR9 5BX T: 020 8657 4433 royalrussell.co.uk
188 St Benedict’s School – Senior & Sixth-Form 54, Eaton Rise, London W5 2ES T: 020 8862 2254 stbenedicts.org.uk 187 St Dunstan’s College Stanstead Road, London SE6 4TY T: 020 8516 7200 stdunstans.org.uk 181 St Helen’s School Eastbury Road, Northwood HA6 3AS T: 01923 843210 sthelens.london 181 St James Senior Girls’ School Earsby Street, London W14 8SH T: 020 7348 1748 stjamesschools.co.uk
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Home Counties South 80 Sydenham High Senior School GDST 15 Westwood Hill, London SE26 6BL T: 020 8557 7004 sydenhamhighschool. gdst.net
113
184 Trinity School Shirley Park, Croydon CR9 7AT T: 020 8656 9541 trinity-school.org
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187 University College School Frognal, London NW3 6XH T: 020 7433 2117 ucs.org.uk 163 Wetherby Senior School 100 Marylebone Lane, London W1U 2QU T: 020 7535 3530 wetherbysenior.co.uk 188 Whitgift School Haling Park Road, South Croydon CR2 6YT T: 020 8688 9222 whitgift.co.uk 188 Wimbledon High School GDST Mansel Road, London SW19 4AB T: 020 8971 0900 wimbledonhigh.gdst.net
ACS International Cobham Portsmouth Road, Cobham, Surrey KT11 1BL T: 01932 869744 acs-schools.com/acscobham ACS International Egham London Road, Egham, Surrey TW20 0HS T: 01784 430611 acs-schools.com/acsegham
190 Aldro Lombard St, Shackleford, Godalming, Surrey GU8 6AS T: 01483 813535 aldro.org 194 Babington House School Grange Drive, Chislehurst, Kent BR7 5ES T: 020 8467 5537 babingtonhouse.com 194 Banstead Prep School Sutton Lane, Banstead SM7 3RA T: 01737 363600 bansteadprep.com 194 Bedales Church Road, Steep, Petersfield, Hampshire GU32 2DG T: 01730 711733 bedales.org.uk 10/11 Bede’s Prep School Duke’s Drive, Eastbourne East Sussex BN20 7XL T: 01323 734222 bedes.org 10/11 Bede’s Senior School Upper Dicker, East Sussex BN27 3QH T: 01323 843252 bedes.org 19
Brighton College Eastern Road, Brighton BN2 0AL T: 01273 704200 brightoncollege.org.uk
193 Caterham School Harestone Valley Rd, Caterham, Surrey CR3 6YA T: 01883 343028 caterhamschool.co.uk 21
Charterhouse Godalming, Surrey GU7 2DX T: 01483 291501 charterhouse.org.uk
195 Christ’s Hospital School Horsham, West Sussex RH13 0YP T: 01403 211293 christs-hospital.org.uk 59
192 Cottesmore School Buchan Hill, Pease Pottage, West Sussex RH11 9AU T: 01293 520648 cottesmoreschool.com 24 191
Cranleigh Preparatory School Horseshoe Lane, Cranleigh, Surrey GU6 8QH T: 01483 542051 cranprep.org
24 191
Cranleigh School Horseshoe Lane, Cranleigh, Surrey GU6 8QQ T: 01483 273666 cranleigh.org
197 Cumnor House Boys’ School 168 Pampisford Rd, South Croydon CR2 6DA T: 020 8660 3445 cumnorhouse.com 197 Cumnor House Girls’ School 1 Woodcote Ln, Purley CR8 3HB T: 020 8668 0050 cumnorhouse.com 196 Duke of York’s Royal Military School Dover, Kent, CT15 5EQ T: 01304 245023 doyrms.com 192 Dunottar School High Trees Rd, Reigate, Surrey RH2 7EL T: 01737 761945 dunottarschool.com 216 Edgeborough School Frensham, Surrey, GU10 3AH T: 01252 792495 edgeborough.co.uk
Due to the Covid pandemic we unfortunately cannot publish the schools’ open days in this issue. Please go to the individual schools’ websites or contact the schools directly for further information.
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Claremont Fan Court School Claremont Dr, Esher KT10 9LY T: 01372 467841 claremontfancourt.co.uk
196 Embley Embley Park, Romsey, Hampshire S051 6ZE T: 01794 512206 embley.org.uk 198 Farleigh School Red Rice, Andover, Hampshire SP11 7PW T: 01264 712838 farleighschool.com 196 Farringtons School Perry St, Chislehurst, Kent BR7 6LR T: 020 8467 0256 farringtons.org.uk 200 Highfield and Brookham Schools Highfield Ln, Liphook GU30 7LQ T: 01428 728000 highfieldschool.org.uk 200 Homefield School Western Road, Sutton, Surrey SM1 2TE T: 020 8642 0965 homefield.sutton.sch.uk 76
Hurst College College Ln, Hurstpierpoint, West Sussex BN6 9JS T: 01273 833636 hppc.co.uk
BC
Hurtwood House Holmbury St Mary, Dorking, Surrey RH5 6NU T: 01483 279000 hurtwoodhouse.com
198 King Edward’s Witley Godalming, Surrey GU8 5SG T: 01428 686700 kesw.org 199 King’s Rochester Satis House, Boley Hill Rochester ME1 1TE T: 01634 888555 kings-rochester.co.uk 12
Lancing College Lancing, West Sussex BN15 0RW T: 01273 465805 lancingcollege.co.uk
201 Mayfield School The Old Palace, Mayfield, East Sussex TN20 6PH T: 01435 874642 mayfieldgirls.org
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Home Counties North 204 The New Beacon School Brittains Lane, Sevenoaks Kent, TN13 2PB T: 01732 452131 newbeacon.org.uk 121
Parkside School The Manor, Stoke D’Abernon, Cobham, Surrey KT11 3PX T: 01932 862749 parkside-school.co.uk
199 The Pilgrims’ School The Close, Winchester SO23 9LT T: 01962 854189 thepilgrims–school.co.uk 202 Reed’s School 205 Sandy Lane, Cobham, Surrey KT11 2ES T: 01932 869001 reeds.surrey.sch.uk 202 Reigate Grammar School Reigate Road, Reigate, Surrey RH2 0QS T: 01737 222231 reigategrammar.org 208 Rowan Prep School 6 Fitzalan Road, Claygate, Esher, Surrey, KT10 0LX T: 01372 462627 rowanprepschool.co.uk 206 The Royal Alexandra and Albert School Gatton Park, Reigate, Surrey RH2 0TD T: 01737 649000 raa-school.co.uk 208 Sevenoaks Prep School Godden Green, Sevenoaks, Kent TN15 0JU T: 01732 762336 theprep.org.uk 210 Sevenoaks School Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 1HU T: 01732 455133 sevenoaksschool.org 205 Sherfield School South Dr, Sherfield on Loddon,Hook RG27 0HU T: 01256 884800 sherfieldschool.co.uk
206 St Edmund’s School Canterbury St Thomas’ Hill, Canterbury, Kent CT2 8HU T: 01227 475601 stedmunds.org.uk 200 St Hilary’s Preparatory School Holloway Hill, Godalming, Surrey GU7 1RZ T: 01483 416551 sthilarysschool.com 204 The American School in England Coldharbour Lane, Thorpe, Surrey TW20 8TE T: 01932 565252 tasisengland.org 203 Tonbridge School High St, Tonbridge, Kent, TN9 1JP T: 01732 304297 tonbridge-school.co.uk 122 Tormead School Cranley Rd, Guildford, Surrey GU1 2JD T: 01483 796040 tormeadschool.org.uk 210 Vinehall School Robertsbridge, East Sussex TN32 5JL T: 01580 880413 vinehallschool.com 209 Walthamstow Hall Junior Bradbourne Park Rd, Sevenoaks Kent, TN13 3LD T: 01732 453815 walthamstow-hall.co.uk 209 Walthamstow Hall Senior Holly Bush Lane, Sevenoaks Kent TN13 3UL T: 01732 451334 walthamstow-hall.co.uk 210 Westbourne House School Coach Rd, Chichester, West Sussex PO20 2BH T: 01243 782739 westbournehouse.org
207 St Catherine’s, Bramley Station Rd, Bramley, Guildford GU5 0DF T: 01483 899609 stcatherines.info
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211
211
ACS International Hillingdon 108 Vine Lane, Hillingdon, Middlesex UB10 0BE T: 01895 818402 acs-schools.com/acshillingdon Bancroft’s School High Road, Woodford Green, Essex IG8 0RF T: 020 8505 4821 bancrofts.org Beachborough School Westbury, Nr. Brackley, Northamptonshire NN13 5LB T: 01280 700071 beachborough.com
216 The Beacon School 15 Amersham Road Chesham Bois, Amersham, Bucks HP6 5PF T: 01494 433654 beaconschool.co.uk 211
14
Berkhamsted School Overton House, 131 High Street, Berkhamsted, Herts HP4 2DJ T: 01442 358001 berkhamsted.com Cheam School Headley, Newbury, Berkshire RG19 8LD T: 01635 267822 cheamschool.com
212 Christ Church Cathedral School 3 Brewer Street, Oxford OX1 1QW T: 01865 242561 cccs.org.uk 212 d’Overbroeck’s 333 Banbury Road, Oxford OX2 7PL T: 01865 688600 doverbroecks.com 213 Downe House Hermitage Rd, Cold Ash Thatcham, Berkshire RG18 9JJ T: 01635 200286 downehouse.net
214 Dragon School Bardwell Rd, Oxford OX2 6SS T: 01865 315413 dragonschool.org 217 Elstree School Woolhampton, Reading, Berkshire RG7 5TD T: 0118971 3302 elstreeschool.org.uk 221 Felsted Preparatory School Felsted, Essex CM6 3JL T: 01371 822611 felsted.org/prephome 221 Felsted School Felsted, Essex CM6 3LL T: 01371 822600 felsted.org 218 Greenes Tutorial College 45 Pembroke Street, Oxford OX1 1BP T: 01865 419998 greenes.org.uk 218 Haileybury Haileybury, Hertford SG13 7NU T: 01992 706353 haileybury.com 4/5 Heathfield School London Road, Ascot SL5 8BQ T: 01344 898 343 heathfieldschool.net 215 Horris Hill Newtown, Newbury, Hampshire RG20 9DJ T: 01635 40594 horrishill.com 219 Ludgrove School Ludgrove, Wokingham, Berkshire RG40 3AB T: 01189 789881 ludgrove.net 224 The Marist School Kings Rd, Sunninghill, Ascot Berkshire SL5 7PS T: 01344 624291 themarist.com 224 Moulsford Preparatory School Moulsford-on-Thames, Oxfordshire OX10 9HR T: 01491 651438 moulsford.com
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South West 140 Oxford Media & Business School Southern House, 1 Cambridge Terrace, Oxford OX1 1RR T: 01865 240963 oxfordbusiness.co.uk 214 Papplewick Windsor Road, Ascot, Berkshire SL5 7LH T: 01344 621488 papplewick.org.uk 219 Queen Anne’s School Henley Rd, Caversham, Berkshire RG4 6DX T: 01189 187300 qas.org.uk 176 Queenswood Shepherd’s Way, Brookmans Park Hatfield, Herts AL9 6NS T: 01707 602500 queenswood.org
220 St George’s Ascot Wells Lane, Ascot, Berkshire SL5 7DZ T: 01344 629920 stgeorges-ascot.org.uk 222 St George’s School Windsor Castle Datchet Road, Windsor SL4 1QF T: 01753 865553 stgwindsor.org 222 St Margaret’s Bushey, Merry Hill Road, Bushey, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD23 1DT T: 020 8416 4400 stmargaretsbushey.co.uk
Reddam House Bearwood Road, Sindlesham, Wokingham, RG41 5BG T: 01189 748300 reddamhouse.org.uk
225 Stowe School Stowe, Buckingham MK18 5EH T: 01280 818205 stowe.co.uk 224 Wychwood School 74 Banbury Road, Oxford OX2 6JR T: 01865 557976 wychwoodschool.org 223 St Christopher School Barrington Rd, Letchworth Garden City, Herts SG6 3JZ T: 01462 650947 stchris.co.uk 15
St Edward’s Oxford Woodstock Rd, Oxford, OX2 7NN T: 01865 319200 stedwardsoxford.org
220 St Francis’ College Broadway, Letchworth Garden City, Hertfordshire SG6 3PJ T: 01462 670511 st-francis.herts.sch.uk
228 Badminton School Westbury Rd, Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol BS9 3BA T: 0117 905 5271 badmintonschool.co.uk 229 Bruton School Sunny Hill, Bruton BA10 0NT T: 01749 814400 brutonschool.co.uk
223 Tudor Hall Wykham Park, Banbury, Oxfordshire OX16 9UR T: 01295 263434 tudorhallschool.com
Bryanston Blandford Forum, Dorset DT11 0PX T: 01258 452411 bryanston.co.uk
Wellington College Crowthorne, Berkshire RG45 7PU T: 01344 444013 wellingtoncollege.org.uk
227 Canford School Wimborne, Dorset BH21 3AD T: 01202 847207 canford.com
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227 All Hallows Prep School Cranmore Hall, Shepton Mallet, Somerset, BA4 4SF T: 01749 881600 allhallowsschool.co.uk
226 York House Sarratt Road, Rickmansworth, Herts WD3 4LW T: 01923 772 395 york-house.com
230 Dauntsey’s School West Lavington, Devizes, Wiltshire SN10 4HE T: 01380 814500 dauntseys.org
234 Kingswood Prep College Road, Bath BA1 5SD T: 01225 734460 kingswood.bath.sch.uk/ prep-school 234 Kingswood Senior Lansdown Road, Bath BA1 5RG T: 01225 734200 kingswood.bath.sch.uk 232 Leweston School Sherborne, Dorset DT9 6EN T: 01963 210691 leweston.co.uk 232 Millfield Prep Glastonbury, Somerset BA6 8LD T: 01458 832446 millfieldprep.com 232 Millfield School Butleigh Rd, Street, Somerset BA16 0YD T: 01458 444296 millfieldschool.com 34
229 Downside School Stratton-on-the-Fosse, Bath, Somerset BA3 4RJ T: 01761 235103 downside.co.uk 230 Godolphin School Millford HIll, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP1 2RA T: 01722 430500 godolphin.org
228 Hazlegrove Preparatory School Hazlegrove, Sparkford, Somerset BA22 7JA T: 01963 442606 hazlegrove.co.uk
Milton Abbey School Blandford Forum, Dorset DT11 0BZ T: 01258 880484 miltonabbey.co.uk
234 Monkton Combe School Monkton Combe, Bath BA2 7HG T: 01225 721133 monktoncombeschool.com 55
231 Hanford School Child Okeford, Blandford, Dorset DT11 8HN T: 01258 860219 hanford.dorset.sch.uk
Due to the Covid pandemic we unfortunately cannot publish the schools’ open days in this issue. Please go to the individual schools’ websites or contact the schools directly for further information.
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235 King Edward’s School Bath North Road, Bath BA2 6HU T: 01225 820399 kesbath.com
Port Regis Motcombe Park, Shaftesbury, Dorset SP7 9QA T: 01747 857800 portregis.com
233 Salisbury Cathedral School 1 The Close, Salisbury, SP1 2EQ T: 01722 555300 salisburycathedral school.com
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COUNTRY SCHOOLS
Central 236 Sandroyd School Rushmore, Tollard Royal, Salisbury SP5 5QD T: 01725 516264 sandroyd.org
239 Adcote School for Girls Little Ness, Shrewsbury Shropshire SY4 2JY T: 01939 260202 adcoteschool.co.uk
235 Sexey’s School Cole Road, Bruton, Somerset BA10 0DF T: 01749 813393 sexeys.somerset.sch.uk
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237 Sherborne School Abbey Rd, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3AP T: 01935 810403 sherborne.org
240 Bromsgrove School Worcester Road, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire B61 7DU T: 01527 579679 bromsgrove-school.co.uk
237 Sherborne Girls Bradford Rd, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3QN T: 01935 818224 sherborne.com 235 St Mary’s Calne Calne, Wilts SN11 0DF T: 01249 857200 stmaryscalne.org 236 Talbot Heath Rothesay Rd, Bournemouth BH4 9NJ T: 01202 761881 talbotheath.org 233 Wells Cathedral School 236 The Liberty, Wells, Somerset BA5 2ST T: 01749 834200 wells.cathedral.school
Bilton Grange Dunchurch, Rugby Warwickshire CV22 6QU T: 01788 810217 biltongrange.co.uk
240 Cheltenham Ladies’ College Bayshill Rd, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL50 3EP T: 01242 520691 cheltladiescollege.org 238 Moreton Hall Weston Rhyn, Oswestry, Shropshire SY11 3EW T: 01691 773671 moretonhall.org 126 Oakham School Chapel Close, Oakham, Rutland LE15 6DT T: 01572 758758 oakham.rutland.sch.uk IFC/1 Repton Prep Milton, Derbyshire DE65 6EJ T: 01283 707100 reptonprep.org.uk IFC/1 Repton Repton, Derbyshire DE65 6FH T: 01283 559200 repton.org.uk 49
Rugby School Lawrence Sheriff St, Rugby Warwickshire CV22 5EH T: 01788 556216 rugbyschool.co.uk
242 Shrewsbury School The Schools, Shrewsbury Shropshire SY3 7BA T: 01743 280552 shrewsbury.org.uk
Eastern and Northern
Scotland, Wales and Ireland
EASTERN
SCOTLAND
244 Beeston Hall School West Runton, Cromer, Norfolk NR27 9NQ T: 01263 837324 beestonhall.co.uk
247 Fettes College Carrington Road, Edinburgh EH4 1QX T: 0131 332 2281 fettes.com
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Gresham’s Cromer Rd, Holt, Norfolk NR25 6EA T: 01263 714500 greshams.com
245 King’s Ely Ely, Cambridgeshire, CB7 4EW T: 01353 660700 kingsely.org 241 The Leys School Cambridge CB2 7AD T: 01223 508904 theleys.net 244 Old Buckenham Hall Brettenham Park, Ipswich, Suffolk IP7 7PH T: 01449 740252 obh.co.uk 246 Orwell Park School Nacton, Ipswich, Suffolk IP10 0ER T: 01473 653224 orwellpark.co.uk 244 Stephen Perse School Union Road, Cambridge CB2 1HF T: 01223 454700 stephenperse.com 246 Woodbridge School Burkitt Rd, Woodbridge IP12 4JH T: 01394 615000 woodbridgeschool.org.uk
Loretto School Linkfield Rd, Musselburgh, East Lothian EH21 7RE T: 0131 653 4455 loretto.com 248 Merchiston Castle School 294 Colinton Road, Edinburgh, Scotland EH13 0PU T: 0131 312 2201 merchiston.co.uk WALES 241 Christ College Brecon Christ College, Llanfaes, Brecon, Wales LD3 8AF T: 01874 615440 christcollegebrecon.com 243 Myddleton College Peakes Ln, Denbigh, Wales LL16 3EN T: 01745 472201 myddeltoncollege.com IRELAND 247 Campbell College Belmont Road, Belfast, Northern Ireland BT4 2ND T: 02890 763076 campbellcollege.co.uk
NORTHERN 238 Aysgarth School Newton-le-Willows, Bedale, North Yorkshire DL8 1TF T: 01677 450240 aysgarthschool.com 238 Queen Ethelburga’s Thorpe Underwood Estate, York YO26 9SS T: 01423 333300 qe.org 79
Rossall School Fleetwood, Lancashire, FY7 8JW T: 01253 774201 rossall.org.uk
242 St Peter’s School, York Clifton, York, YO30 6AB T: 01904 527300 stpetersyork.org.uk IBC Stonyhurst College Stonyhurst, Clitheroe Lancashire BB7 9PZ T: 01254 827073 stonyhurst.ac.uk
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Stony Hurst.indd 1
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YES, IT’S A CRYING SHAME…
…that she left it too late to apply for Hurtwood House, because it’s simply the best for acting, dancing, singing, film-making – “A utopia for creative minds” – as the Good Schools Guide says. And crucially, this exciting school is equally successful academically. In fact, it’s statistically one of the top co-ed boarding schools in the UK. So, if you’re looking for a really exciting and rewarding change of school at 16 – don’t leave it too late. Contact Cosmo Jackson or visit our website for more information.
T: 01483 279000
E: info@hurtwood.net
hurtwoodhouse.com
Hurtwood House.indd 1
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