7 minute read
Education
Mental Toughness and the pandemic By Jane Gandee, Headmistress at St Swithun’s in Winchester
Last week AQR International, which specialises in helping organisations optimise people performance, updated its 2017 research into Mental Toughness with a new meta-analysis of data collected during the pandemic. The findings show that girls in single-sex schools which are part of the Girls’ Schools Association (as St Swithun’s proudly is) are generally more confident and emotionally in control than girls in co-educational schools. The research also indicates, not surprisingly, that girls who were more mentally tough before had an advantage in dealing with the pandemic. At St Swithun’s, we are not surprised by these findings. Girls in single-sex schools like ours grow up without encountering gender stereotyping, at least during their education. This has a multitude of benefits which the girls carry with them into the outside world and throughout their adult life. One benefit relates to subject choices. Our students learn that all subjects are open to them and that they are just as likely to be successful in maths and physics as they are in art or English. They appreciate that success is about acquiring the right skills and attitude rather than being male or female. Unbelievably, there are some co-ed schools in which not a single girl studies physics, apparently because there still exist stereotypes suggesting that physics is not suitable for girls. Research also shows that girls in single sex environments are more likely to continue with sport which is linked to a positive body image, a healthy relationship with food and good mental health. The absence of boys has a further plus in that the girls here tend to grow up a little more slowly. They can unselfconsciously have fun without worrying about impressing anyone. Why does mental toughness matter? Because it correlates with ambition, adaptability to change, ability to cope with stress, achievement and well-being. Indeed, other studies have shown precisely that girls educated in single-sex schools are more likely to take risks in the world of work such as asking for a pay rise or applying for a promotion. www.stswithuns.com | Tel: 01962 835703
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Biodiversity Week at Embley Prep
Discovering, observing and investigating our surroundings and the diverse natural world which surrounds us each day is very much part of teaching and learning at Embley. Last month, pupils from Embley Prep School participated in a week of biodiversity themed activities exploring the variety of life in the ecosystem whilst learning more about the importance of nature and habitats and the role that we all play in protecting them.
Children from Reception class thoroughly enjoyed a ZooLab Rainforest workshop where they experienced face-to-face encounters with a variety of creatures including some very large snakes and spiders. All pupils from Year 2 to Year 6 had a wonderful day out at Marwell Zoo, home to hundreds of exotic and endangered animals. Key Stage 1 went on a Gruffalo Trail in Embley’s woods; and across two mornings, everyone participated in a range of Natural Science-based lessons in the school grounds, which included surveying trees and looking at insect habitats. A dedicated Bushcraft Evening involving zip wires, whittling wood, den building and cooking on open fires was a definite hit with Year 5.
At the start of the week Head of Embley Prep, Miss Sheina Wright, gave a thoughtprovoking assembly about the importance of looking after the environment to ensure that all its inhabitants can thrive both now and in the future. Key messages were to make sure litter was disposed of carefully so as not to endanger wildlife and to encourage the children to reuse and recycle as much as possible. Everyone was fascinated to learn that clothing can now be manufactured using coffee grounds and plastic bottles.
For more information please call: 01794 512206 or email: admissions@embley.org.uk Embley, Embley Park, Romsey, Hampshire SO51 6ZE (Senior School) SO51 6ZA (Prep School)
Godolphin Upper Sixth Art student raising awareness for Rhino Conservation
Upper Sixth student Kate Prendergast has created a clay rhino statue (1m x 1/2m) which is currently on display in the Godolphin School grounds. The Rhino, which has been sculptured in unfired clay, has taken weeks to create, but will dissolve in a matter of hours. Kate’s aim is to raise awareness in and outside the school community to help Save the Rhinos.
Kate Prendergast says “As part of my Extended Project Qualification, I have been looking at the plight of the Rhino and the efforts that the world is going to save this endangered species. I have created a clay rhino which I’ve sculptured unfired clay. My rhino is currently sitting outside the school, and as the rain and weather encounters the dry clay the piece will slowly degrade and fade away. In this way I hope to demonstrate visually how, unless the world comes together to help the Rhino, they too will gradually disappear from this planet.” Head of Art & Design at Godolphin Nick Eggleton says “ This is taking art and design to a different level. Many students create permanent work to make a statement on social, political, or environmental issues but to come up with an alternative transient piece of work to highlight an issue is rather unusual. Kate has experienced the work that Save the Rhino is undertaking whilst on holiday and it is this that has motivated her to create this piece of work. Save the Rhino says “It’s shocking that today, three of the five species of rhino are Critically Endangered, and two have fewer than 80 animals left. The good news is that together we can stop poaching and habitat loss, so that rhinos are no longer near extinction. But we need to act now.”
Peter Newman Visits Art Scholars at Salisbury Cathedral School
Acclaimed international artist, Peter Newman visited Salisbury Cathedral School (SCS) on Friday 11 June to talk with four year 7 pupils who are preparing to apply for art scholarships to their chosen senior schools.
Acclaimed international artist, Peter Newman visited Salisbury Cathedral School (SCS) on Friday 11 June to talk with four year 7 pupils who are preparing to apply for art scholarships to their chosen senior schools. Peter was a pupil at SCS between 1977 and 1982 and his sculpture – Skystation – is currently on display in the grounds of Salisbury Cathedral.
‘I have great memories of my time as a boy at Salisbury Cathedral School as it was when I first became interested in art. I was inspired by the art and architecture of Salisbury Cathedral, the Bishop’s Palace and around the Cathedral Close,’ explained Peter. ‘It is a very special place to go to school.’
Peter presented to the SCS Art Scholars, took questions and then accompanied them to visit his sculpture. The Skystation initially came to Salisbury as part of the Cathedral’s 800th anniversary exhibition, called ‘Spirit & Endeavour’, and offers the public a place to rest and contemplate their surroundings. The shape of the piece is designed to fit the reclining human form to encourage people to look up and observe the sky and the vast expanse of space above.
‘The Art Scholarship Preparation Group have been studying Peter Newman’s work and visited his sculpture in Roche Court as well as the one in the Cathedral grounds. We are so privileged to have such incredible artwork near to our school, but for it be created by an ex-pupil is extremely inspiring for these keen artists,’ said Kate Stredwick, Head of Art at SCS.
The lucky SCS art scholars enjoyed hearing about Peter’s career. Since graduating from Goldsmith’s College in 1990, he has hosted solo exhibitions in London, Brussels, Hamburg, New York, Chicago and Tokyo. In 2004 his work was projected onto the exterior of the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art in Japan. Peter received an artist’s award from the Arts Council of England in 2005, the same year he initially created the Skystation.
Salisbury Cathedral School is a happy, co-ed, preparatory school where pupils aged 3 to 13 are nurtured and inspired to achieve confidence and a lifelong love of learning. For more information, please contact Jojo Orange, Registrar on 01722 555300 or orange.j@ salisburycathedralschool.com
